Gynocriticism and Feminist Writing

A method of analyzing texts to uncover and challenge how literature reinforces or undermines the oppression of women.

A system where men hold power and dominance in society, often resulting in women's subordination.

The biological differences between males and females, often categorized as male or female.

The socially constructed roles, behaviors, and expectations associated with being a man or a woman.

An approach to understanding literature from a woman's perspective, challenging traditional interpretations dominated by male views.

The practice of rediscovering and publishing works written by women, giving voice to previously silenced female narratives.

The belief that women are innately inferior to men, often used to justify discriminatory practices.

The goal of achieving equal rights, opportunities, and representation for women in all aspects of society.

A literary approach that analyzes women's writing within the context of societal norms and pressures that define their experiences.

Showalter's theory identifies three stages of female writing: The feminine phase, where women accepted societal expectations. The feminist phase, where women challenged male dominance. And the female phase, where the focus shifted to analyzing feminist writings.

A critical framework for analyzing women's literature that focuses on understanding women's experiences within their social and historical contexts.

This model examines how the female body and its representation in literary works contribute to understanding women's experiences.

This model explores the ways that women's language use is different from men's, arguing that women can create a distinct female discourse.

This model analyzes the female psyche and its portrayal in literature, emphasizing the fluidity and dynamic nature of female writing.

This model investigates how societal forces influence women's creative processes, shaping their goals, perspectives, and responses in their writing.

A fundamental idea within feminist literary theory that challenges the traditional dominance of male perspective in defining humanity.

The first wave of feminism, occurring in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, focused on achieving political and economic equality for women. This included the right to vote and own property.

The second wave of feminism, emerging in the 1960s, aimed for women's liberation and equality in personal and social spheres. This encompassed greater freedom in their personal lives and challenging gender roles in society.

The third wave of feminism, which started in the 1990s, built upon the second wave's principles by emphasizing individualism and identity. It aimed to address the limitations of the second wave and empower women to define their own identities.

Mary Wollstonecraft, in her book "A Vindication of the Rights of Women" (1792), argued against the notion that women should not receive a rational education. She believed in the right of women to be treated as equal human beings with access to knowledge and opportunities.

In her essay "A Room of One's Own" (1919), Virginia Woolf emphasizes the need for women's financial and spatial independence as crucial for their intellectual growth and flourishing. She believed women couldn't achieve intellectual equality without these resources.

Simone de Beauvoir's "The Second Sex" (1949) is considered a foundational work of second-wave feminism. This book examines the historical treatment of women and argues that Western societies are patriarchal, controlled by men, and that women are defined by their relationship to men, not by themselves.

Kate Millett's "Sexual Politics" (1970) is considered the first book of academic feminist literary criticism. She analyzes the works of authors like D.H. Lawrence and Henry Miller, highlighting how they perpetuate patriarchal and sexist views on gender roles and sexuality.

The women's liberation movement of the 1960s, which fought for women's rights, served as a catalyst for the modern feminist movement. This movement addressed issues like equal opportunities, reproductive rights, and challenging societal norms that limited women.