1. Feminist Criticism

3. Key Terms Patriarchy – male-dominated power structures
Misogyny – hatred of women
Gender-role stereotyping – a series of norms and behaviors based on gender

4. Questions for the Feminist Critic
How does the portrayal of women in so-called classic literature (the canon) illustrate a patriarchal ideology?
How are women stereotyped?
What female authors have been ignored or marginalized by the patriarchy?
How do texts written by women subvert a patriarchal social order?

5. Basic Tenets of Feminist Criticism
Feminist literary criticism is a product of the 1960s feminist movement and concerns itself with the representation of women in literary canon (works typically written by men) as an expression of the social norms governing women.
In every domain where patriarchy reigns (economic, social, political, psychological), woman is marginalized.
Judeo-Christian western civilization is deeply rooted in patriarchal ideology, beginning with the biblical portrayal of Adam and Eve.

6. Polarization of the Female
Good (spiritual)
Serve the Interest of the Hero
Evil (material)
Foil the Hero
Virgin Wife Mother Angel Soul Mate
Whore
Spinster
Barren
Temptress
Madwoman

7. Feminism and Language
The existent language in literature is male-centered (phallocentric) language.
Female language is considered intellectually inferior, emotional, and irrational.
The patriarchy feels threatened by female discourse.
Women must choose between adopting the male-dominated discourse or remaining silent.

8. Misogyny in Vocabulary
Dictionary Definition
Word Etymology
hysteria :  a psychoneurosis marked by emotional excitability and disturbances of the psychic, sensory, vasomotor, and visceral functions
hysteria (adj.) 1610s, "characteristic of hysteria," from Latin hystericus "of the womb," from Greek hysterikos "of the womb, suffering in the womb," from hystera "womb" (see hysteria). Originally defined as a neurotic condition peculiar to women and thought to be caused by a dysfunction of the uterus. With abstract noun ending -ia. General sense of "unhealthy emotion or excitement" is by 1839.

11. Binary Language Father Sun Head Action Reason Light
Masculine
Feminine
Father Sun Head Action Reason Light
Mother Moon Heart Passivity Emotion Dark