Feminist Literary Criticism Origin Grew out of the

Feminist Literary Criticism

Origin Grew out of the women’s movements following WWII.

Two basic forms. . . Feminist Criticism - analysis of the depiction of women and their relation to the woman reader by male authors. Gynocriticism - the study of women’s writing.

Feminism Premises

Premises • Women are oppressed by patriarchy economically, politically, socially and physiologically; patriarchal ideology is the primary means by which they are kept so.

Premises • In every domain where patriarchy reigns woman is other: she is objectified and marginalized, defined only by her difference from male norms and values defined by what she (allegedly) lacks and that men (allegedly) have.

Premises • All of Western civilization is deeply rooted in patriarchal ideology; for example, in the numerous patriarchal women and female monsters of Greek and Roman literature and mythology; the patriarchal interpretation of the biblical Eve as the origin of sin and death in the world; the representation of woman as a nonrational creature by traditional Western philosophy. Even the development of Western canon of great literature including traditional fairy tales is the product of patriarchal ideology.

Premises • All feminist activity including feminist theory and literary criticism has as its ultimate goal to change the world by promoting women’s equality.

Premises • Gender issues play a part in every aspect of human production and experience including the production and expedience of literature whether we are consciously aware of these issues or not.

Premises • While biology determines our sex (male or female), culture determines our gender (masculine or feminine). That is, for those English-speaking feminists the word gender refers not to our anatomy but to our behavior as socially programmed men and women. I behave “like a woman” , for example submissively, not because it is natural for me to do so but because I was taught to do so. In fact, all the traits associated with masculine and feminine behavior are learned not inborn.

Patriarchy “any culture that privileges men by promoting traditional gender roles. ” • What are traditional gender roles? • • Men: “rational, strong, protective, and decisive” Women: “emotional (irrational), weak, nurturing and submissive”

How has patriarchy operated in institutions throughout history? Institution Traditional Gender Roles Family Head vs. Supporter Religion Head of church vs. workers/supporters Government Political leaders vs. secretary Military Generals/soldiers vs. victims/observers/ nurses Workforce CEO vs. secretary Sports “Field leader” quarterback vs. Cheerleaders/eye candy Fashion Freedom vs. restriction, simple vs. ornate

Feminism Jargon • LOTS of binaries! • • • Rational vs. irrational; dominating vs. submissive; public domain vs. domestic realm; provider/protector vs. caretaker/mother; strong vs. gentle/weak Verbs for female: transgress/subvert/defy OR succumb/submit/conform. What happens to patriarchy: Entrenched or destabilized? Reinforced? By whom?

Female Role Consider the roles and situations of female characters. Make lists of different aspects of the female character’s place in the overall story. Include anecdotal scenarios that will back up your thesis.

Female Relationship Look at the relationship of female characters to each other. Examine any discrepancies that might shed light on the overall role of females in the story.

Woman vs. Man Review the role of female characters in relation to their male counterparts. Literary criticism has its famous set of contrasts (i. e. man vs. nature, man vs. society) that set up points of inquiry. In this case, your fundamental contrast would be woman vs. man.

The Female Worldview Consider the attitudes of characters and how their world-views contribute to the eventual outcomes in the story. The goals of characters may not cause outcomes. Evaluate how “powerful” each character becomes.

Some questions to consider. . . How are the lives of men and women portrayed in the work? Do the men and women in the work accept or reject these roles? Is the form and content of the work influenced by the author’s gender?

Questions cont. . . How are attitudes explicit or implicit concerning heterosexual or homosexual relationships? Are these relationships sources of conflict? Do they provide resolutions to conflicts? Does the work challenge or affirm traditional ideas about men and women and same-sex relationships?

A goldmine of patriarchy: Disney fairytales!! • • One Example: Snow White. Discuss: Does Snow White operate under patriarchal gender roles? Why or why not? • Unpack plot/characters and apply feminist jargon

Practice constructing a thesis… • • What kind of thesis can we make for a feminist “reading” of Snow White? Remember specifics of feminist thesis: • • Find tension that stems from patriarchy What is the author saying about that tension?