The Evolution ofThe Evolution ofFeminist Criticism in Literature Feminist Criticism in Literature

AnalysisAnalysis

Catherine WishartCatherine WishartLiteracy CoachLiteracy Coach

Copyright © 2009.Copyright © 2009.

What is Feminist Criticism?What is Feminist Criticism?• Women continue to search for their own voice and power Women continue to search for their own voice and power

base:base:– Sojourner Truth fought for freeing slaves and then for freeing Sojourner Truth fought for freeing slaves and then for freeing

women.women.– Suffragettes fought for the right to vote.Suffragettes fought for the right to vote.– After WW II, women fought to continue working once troops After WW II, women fought to continue working once troops

came home.came home.– Women continue to fight for and debate specific women’s Women continue to fight for and debate specific women’s

issues:issues:• Should a mother work outside the home?Should a mother work outside the home?• Should women have the right to abort?Should women have the right to abort?• How can women protect themselves from domestic abuse?How can women protect themselves from domestic abuse?

• Exploring these issues is often possible when examining Exploring these issues is often possible when examining literature closely.literature closely.

• Feminist criticism is “concerned… with the status of Feminist criticism is “concerned… with the status of women” women” (Lynn 229). (Lynn 229).

Key Terms in Feminist TheoryKey Terms in Feminist Theory

• Canon: “that group of works that are usually Canon: “that group of works that are usually reprinted, read, assigned, written about, and reprinted, read, assigned, written about, and taken most seriously” taken most seriously” (Lynn 261).(Lynn 261).

– European male authors over-represented.European male authors over-represented.– Female authors under-represented.Female authors under-represented.

• Double –voiced: write with two voices so Double –voiced: write with two voices so societal norms are not threatened, but other societal norms are not threatened, but other perspectives are explored perspectives are explored (Lynn 262).(Lynn 262).

• Sexist: “Pejorative characterizations of women Sexist: “Pejorative characterizations of women as a group” as a group” (Lynn 263).(Lynn 263).

• Gender: “cultural aspects of sexuality” Gender: “cultural aspects of sexuality” (Lynn 262).(Lynn 262).

What Does Feminist Criticism Examine?What Does Feminist Criticism Examine?• Feminist Criticism reads a text closely to determine Feminist Criticism reads a text closely to determine

what is said about:what is said about:– Sexual oppressionSexual oppression– Personal freedomPersonal freedom– Social justiceSocial justice– StereotypingStereotyping

• Includes examining how men are stereotypedIncludes examining how men are stereotyped

• Feminist Criticism wants to pursue:Feminist Criticism wants to pursue:– Equality for womenEquality for women– Reasons for oppressive behaviorsReasons for oppressive behaviors– Revealing texts that use double-voice to continue to Revealing texts that use double-voice to continue to

subjugate womensubjugate women(Lynn 229)(Lynn 229)

Practicing Feminist CriticismPracticing Feminist Criticism

• Carefully read the story on the next slide. Carefully read the story on the next slide. • Consider the role of Boori Ma in the story. Consider the role of Boori Ma in the story. • What questions come to mind about Boori Ma’s What questions come to mind about Boori Ma’s

situation? situation? • Think about these questions when reading:Think about these questions when reading:– Why is Boori Ma called “the sweeper of the Why is Boori Ma called “the sweeper of the

stairwell”?stairwell”?– How does her age play into her situation? How does her age play into her situation? – Does her gender add difficulties for her? If so, how?Does her gender add difficulties for her? If so, how?

A Real Durwan A Real Durwan

Boori Ma, sweeper of the stairwell, had not slept in two nights. So the Boori Ma, sweeper of the stairwell, had not slept in two nights. So the morning before the third night she shook the mites out of her morning before the third night she shook the mites out of her bedding. She shook the quilts once underneath the letter boxes bedding. She shook the quilts once underneath the letter boxes where she lived, then once again at the mouth of the alley, causing the where she lived, then once again at the mouth of the alley, causing the crows who were feeding on vegetable peels to scatter in several crows who were feeding on vegetable peels to scatter in several directions.directions. As she started up the four flights to the roof, Boori Ma kept one As she started up the four flights to the roof, Boori Ma kept one hand placed over the knee that swelled at the start of every rainy hand placed over the knee that swelled at the start of every rainy season. That meant that her bucket, quilts and the bundle of reeds season. That meant that her bucket, quilts and the bundle of reeds which served as her broom all had to be braced under one arm. Lately which served as her broom all had to be braced under one arm. Lately Boori Ma had been thinking that the stairs were getting steeper; Boori Ma had been thinking that the stairs were getting steeper; climbing them felt more like climbing a ladder than a staircase. She climbing them felt more like climbing a ladder than a staircase. She was sixty-four years old, with hair in a knot no larger than a walnut, was sixty-four years old, with hair in a knot no larger than a walnut, and she looked almost as narrow from the front as she did from the and she looked almost as narrow from the front as she did from the side.side.Interpreter of Maladies,Interpreter of Maladies,Jhumpa LahiriJhumpa Lahiri

Evolving Into Post-FeminismEvolving Into Post-Feminism

• Post-feminists generally believe that Post-feminists generally believe that feminism has done its job – equal rights is feminism has done its job – equal rights is occurring in most first world countries.occurring in most first world countries.

• There are still important issues facing There are still important issues facing women:women:– What are the “distinctive needs” of women?What are the “distinctive needs” of women?• Childrearing, housecleaning still considered “women’s Childrearing, housecleaning still considered “women’s

work”work”• Why are these duties considered female? How do Why are these duties considered female? How do

these duties impede on women’s progress in society?these duties impede on women’s progress in society?(Lynn 229-30). (Lynn 229-30).

Practicing Post-Feminist CriticismPracticing Post-Feminist Criticism• Many shows of the 50s and 60s portrayed Many shows of the 50s and 60s portrayed

women in particular roles.women in particular roles.• In the attached clip, the daughter of Donna In the attached clip, the daughter of Donna

Reed in Reed in The Donna Reed ShowThe Donna Reed Show, Mary Stone, , Mary Stone, is looking for her identity. is looking for her identity.

• What does this search say about women’s What does this search say about women’s roles and needs?roles and needs?

• Click on the movie camera to view the clip. Click on the movie camera to view the clip.

The Evolution of Women’s Voices in The Evolution of Women’s Voices in LiteratureLiterature

References and Suggested References and Suggested ReadingReading• Donna Reed Show with Shelly FabaresDonna Reed Show with Shelly Fabares. . You TubeYou Tube. .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpSow6Jy7ms (referenced). (referenced). • ““Feminist Criticism.” Feminist Criticism.” The Cambridge Guide to Literature in EnglishThe Cambridge Guide to Literature in English. .

Cambridge: Cambridge U P, 2000 (suggested reading). Cambridge: Cambridge U P, 2000 (suggested reading). • Gardiner, Anne Barbeau. “Feminist literary criticism: from anti-Gardiner, Anne Barbeau. “Feminist literary criticism: from anti-

patriarchy to decadence.” patriarchy to decadence.” Modern AgeModern Age 49.4 (Fall 2007): 393(7) 49.4 (Fall 2007): 393(7) (suggested reading). (suggested reading).

• Greene, Gayle. Greene, Gayle. Changing the Story: Feminist Fiction and the Changing the Story: Feminist Fiction and the TraditionTradition. Bloomington, IL, 1991 (suggested reading). . Bloomington, IL, 1991 (suggested reading).

• Lahiri, Jhumpa. “A Real Durwan. Lahiri, Jhumpa. “A Real Durwan. Interpreter of MaladiesInterpreter of Maladies. New . New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 70-82. (referenced text). York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 70-82. (referenced text).

• Lynn, Steven. “Gendering the Text: Feminist Criticism, Post-Lynn, Steven. “Gendering the Text: Feminist Criticism, Post-Feminism, and Queer Theory.” Feminism, and Queer Theory.” Texts and Contexts: Writing about Texts and Contexts: Writing about Literature with Critical TheoryLiterature with Critical Theory. New York: Pearson Longman, 2008. . New York: Pearson Longman, 2008. 227-66. (referenced text). 227-66. (referenced text).