group 2 angela baldwin, logan knight, thomas sietman, amy wilsom
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3 Main Strains Of Feminist Criticism
French Feminists
American Feminists
British Feminists
French Feminists
Language Represents world from male
perspective Ex:
active/passive masculine/feminine head/heart (reason/emotion) sun/moon
Women can choose to speak (as men) or be “silent, the invisible and unheard sex”
Opposing Views within French Feminism
Women can develop a feminine language Julia Kristeva says it is rhythmic and unifying
Maternal in nature Associates feminine writing with the female body
Women’s sensuality has been repressed and denied expression
Fauré and Clément, however, feel this approach does not challenge masculine dominance
American Feminists
Literature Analyze literary texts of men and
women rather than emphasizing language “abstract philosophizing”
2 Different Groups Critique of male literature “Gynocriticism”
“Gynocritcism”
Elaine Showalter Study the writings of women who
produced a literature of their own
Purposes: (re)study well-known female
authors Rediscover women’s history &
culture Discover neglected/forgotten
female writers
British Feminists
Popular Art and Culture Regard their practice as more political Believe focusing on women’s texts outside
of the historical culture is dangerous Leads to making generalizations without
considering the culture, ideology, race, or class of the women
British theory emphasizes knowing historical processes in order to promote social change.