Feminist Literary Criticism: Definition, Principles, and Aims

Feminist Literary Criticism Defined

Feminist literary criticism is a form of literary analysis informed by feminist theory or the politics of feminism more broadly. Feminism itself is a way of thinking, writing, and acting that asserts men and women possess equal capacity and deserve the same opportunities. It posits that gender differences are not inherent but socially constructed through education and societal norms.

As articulated by Simone de Beauvoir, this movement involves the rejection of the naturalization of the category of "woman": “One is not born, but rather becomes a woman.” In the process of exposing the ideological work involved in the construction of gender, feminist theory and practice are intimately entwined within the domain of political action itself.

Core Principles of Feminist Literary Theory

Feminist literary criticism operates on several foundational principles:

• The historical relationship between men and women has been characterized by inequality and oppression, a situation feminists seek to fundamentally change.
• Society has historically been patriarchal, meaning systems and structures are dominated by male authority.
• Major social institutions—including the economy, political systems, family, and religion—have been characterized by male dominance.
• Feminist theory should remain within the framework of scientific thought, serving as a tool to help women understand their situation and achieve liberation.
• Gender inequality must be analyzed as a specific form of social stratification that inherently generates conflict.
• The root of gender inequality is often economic. Male dominance is maintained through the control of the means of production and economic distribution, which translates into power over politics, social status, and family life.

Principal Aims and Objectives

The primary goals of feminist literary criticism include:

• To make visible and challenge women’s oppression within patriarchal society by analyzing its representation in literature.
• To denaturalize the subordination of women within the family structure. Historically, women were often treated as possessions, dependent on the working man while caring for the children. Achieving independence often requires, as Virginia Woolf suggested, economic autonomy and personal space.
• To disclose and dismantle sexual myths, particularly those related to feminine passivity.
• To challenge normative heterosexuality and ensure that no individual is marginalized based on sexual orientation.
• To reform literary canons to ensure the inclusion of women writers and their works, achieving equality in literary recognition.
• To study the relationship between gender (social construction) and genre (literary form), including the concept of a distinct 'feminine style' in writing. These concepts are distinct but interconnected, requiring separate analysis.