A Transitory Study in Feminism in Literature

Abstract

Feminist writers belong to the majority of those whose work is centered on, or in significant relation to the major themes of the social theories, political movements, and moral philosophies.Feminist literature is fiction and nonfiction as well, which supports the feminist goals of defining, establishing and defending equal civil, political, economic and social rights for women. The beginning of mainstream feminist literary criticism is typically considered during second-wave feminism, there are multiple texts prior to that era that contributed greatly to the field. Modern feminist literary criticism finds most of its roots in the 1960s second-wave feminist movements. Feminist criticism is concerned with “...the ways in which literature (and other cultural productions) reinforce or undermine the economic, political, social, and psychological oppression of women” (Tyson). The extent of inequality and oppressiveness has varied greatly. All known societies have been patriarchal.We need not have to study literature in order to know about feminism. In some way or the other, the term feminism is over-rated. People who speak or write about women are blindly considered to be feminists. However, feminism is not a new term. To be back to the history, feminism movement started in the late 1500 to the early 1600 century. This commencement of feminism kick started to the women's right, like right to education, employment and also politics. Interestingly, many women writers emerged and wrote many literature works regarding the plight of women. Many feminist women writers who have contributed literature to the society wrote chivalric novels. Most of their novels had women protagonist and were based on the glory of women in the world. Feminist women writers still strive to uphold the rights of women through their works like poems and novels.