Feminism

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Feminism

• A Framework for Literary Criticism

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Feminism

• What comes to mind when you think of the term
  feminism??

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What is the point of feminist criticism?

• The goal is to appreciate, not necessarily accept
  the insight of women
• Examine stereotypes, prejudices, limitations
  and/or freedoms that women experience
• Can also be called gender criticism

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What is the point of feminist criticism?

• To examine the ways in which female characters
  might be marginalized
• Economically
• Socially
• Politically
• Or represented as stereotypes based on popular
  ideology

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Using Feminism as a Lens for Critical Analysis

• You assume that
• The work does not have an objective status that
  is, the text is a product of the world for the
  world and has influence upon the audience.
• Men and women are different and these differences
  should be valued.

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Key Concepts of Feminism

• 1. Patriarchy a social system where the father
  is the head of the family and men have authority
  over women and children
• Question to consider when analyzing the text
• How are the social systems and relationships in
  the text constructed and is there any evidence of
  patriarchy?

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Key Concepts of Feminism

• 2. Domesticity A womans traditional place is
  within the home, she lives in the domestic,
  private sphere while men live in the public
  sphere of work and commerce.
• Question What are the roles of characters in the
  text and are how are they related to domesticity?

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Key Concepts of Feminism

• 3. Female Dichotomy Women are represented in the
  text in binaries such as the Angel (organized and
  right) vs the Crazy woman in the attic
  (disorganized and evil). In these binaries, the
  lustful fallen woman is always a negative
  character and is often punished.
• Question What binaries are evident in the
  portrayal or characterization of characters in
  the text?

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Key Concepts of Feminism

• 4. Women as Nature Women are often compared to
  nature. The comparison is that they can both be
  nurturing and/or destructive and wild. It is up
  to men in both cases to tame, control, or
  conquer nature and women.
• Question Is there any evidence of a connection
  between female representations and nature? How
  are these represented and what are the
  connotations or associations with nature?

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Key Concepts of Feminism

• 5. Hysteria and Weakness Women are the weaker
  sex and therefore more emotional. Many medical
  issues women faced were shrugged off as hysteria.
  Hysteria conveniently enforced the idea that
  women are incapable decision makers (especially
  when is came to politics or economics). As
  hysteria was directly linked to uteruses, men
  were immune.
• Question How is illness or weakness represented
  in the text?

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Key Concepts of Feminism

• 6. Female Competition All women are in
  competition with each other for men. The myth
  that women cannot get along, helps enforce the
  idea that if women did get together to form a
  feminist group, all they would do is gossip and
  bitch. This reinforces the notion of a husband
  and family as the ultimate goal. As well, it
  reinforces the need for female vanity and
  competition among women over sexual
  attractiveness.
• Question  Is there evidence of competition to
  secure the attention of men by women in the text?

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Key Concepts of Feminism

• 7. The Importance of Appearance and the Aging
  Woman  womens appearance and beauty is more
  important culturally and in society than mens
  appearance they depreciate as they age. The
  old woman character is usually a bitter,
  resentful, envious, evil, de-sexualized, witch.
• Question How are physical characteristics and
  age represented in the text?

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Key Concepts of Feminism

• 8. Male Gaze Female characters (in poetry,
  prose, paintings, plays, and especially films)
  are objects for the male gaze.
• Question How do women and men behave in the
  story? Is there any evidence of the male gaze?

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Key Concepts of Feminism

• 9. The Need for Masculine Protection The idea
  that women are passive, vulnerable victims to be
  protected, suppresses and subordinates those it
  protects. Women must allow themselves to be
  oppressed to qualify for protection.
• Question In what ways is the dichotomy between
  good and bad represented? Are there any
  characters that provide the role of protector and
  how does gender factor into these relationships?