The movement

• Feminist criticism is concerned with the representation of women in literature, and their role in society. It brings activism to a need for independence in every aspect of a woman’s life.
• Feminism was not about criticizing men but discovering women.
• Sex = biology.
• Gender = traditionally masculinity and femininity, which is different in each culture.
• When women started to be needed, they could start demanding rights. This became particularly true when the men went off to war and women were needed in the factories.

Women’s fight for equality in regards to men

• Essentially, feminism looks at a male-dominated society and looks for a female counterbalance, as the world has been organised by men for men.
• It criticizes how language favours men and marginalizes women, and texts have to be politically correct, not “man” discovered, but people, humans etc.
• Feminism tries to break gender norms in every aspect, personality and strength, societal, household, among others, and change them to more neutral terms, where attributes focus on people at an individual level, not as a collective of what “should be”.
• The previous point comes as women were defined as “what was “lacking” to be a man”.
• Some didn't think women were less per se, just incapable.
• Some crucial emotions, such as empathy, are qualities you are taught, not born with. They were typically female related, and men weren’t supposed to know them, this created behavioural imbalance.
• It also analyses how relationships between men and women have been portrayed in literature, highlighting of course, the fact this comes from real life.
• They focused on the behavioural patterns and treatment between men and women, from the dominant partner and submissive, sexual violence, and abuse, and how this was an all too familiar reoccurrence.

The traditional role of women in literature

• Feminism deals with how culture plays a significant part in constructing and fixing “identity”.
• In literature, women: were treated like children; often had no name but their husbands did, or the wife had his name; had no free will, they were under their husband’s command; when she was weak, he was strong, when she was strong, he was a mess.
• They were also stereotypically played as vulnerable and dependent.
• Women's roles were practically limited to: mother / wife; mad lady; and fallen woman.
• And writers looked into the concept of “hysteria” specifically assigned to women, and their portrayal of madness.

The new role of women in literature (1960s and onwards)

• Now women’s genuine experiences were being listened to, and one way their voices were being heard was through literature. They explored a wide range of topics:
• Their nature – what “is” a woman?
• The oppression of women.
• Questioning domestic life and roles.
• Political rights and opportunities.
• Sexual freedom, to conduct their sexual lives in a personal manner, with whom they want, and when they want.
• The fight to have a choice.
• The right to economical independence.
• Discrimination in the work place.
• Fighting against objectification, sexual or otherwise.
• The hope of eliminating discrimination when a woman looks to do the same as a man.
• They were above all against discrimination, and for equality, whether for white, black, gay or other minority women.

Waves of Feminism

• Earlier works, usually referred to as “First Wave Feminism” (more or less the 1920s), would fight for political rights, such as voting and being able to partake in government.
• The Second Wave Feminism isn’t really strong until the 60s and 70s, and fights for more than just straight, white women’s rights.
• Third Wave Feminism (90s onwards) continues to deal with previous issues, and now incorporates a concern for more diversity.