feminist literary theory

gender norms

societal expectations regarding how men and women should behave

media, socialization and culture contribute to this

feminist literary theory

critical and theoretical practice committed to the struggle against patriarchy and sexism, two types:

unearthing women’s writing

re-reading in the pov of women

patriarchy

social system where men hold primary responsibility and authority 

gave fathers near-total ownerships over wives and children

literary canons

most of this represent the embodiment of male fantasies and patriarchal authority

kate millet

sexual politics

patriarchy established the male as the norm, wherein the women are alien

male gaze

women are viewed in the eyes of a man

represented as passive, sexualized objects of male desire

laura mulvey

ecriture feminine

helene cixous

male - rigid, logical, and linear

female - fluid, poetic, and body-centered expression

women must write about themselves

intersectionality

kimberlé crenshaw

social stratification like race, class, and gender create different pov and perspectives of women

women’s experiences are not the same

conceptualization of the relation of systems of oppression

identify womens rep

1st step

examine how women are portrayed and objectified

consider how male gaze affects them

examine gender roles

2nd step

list the expectations on men and women respectively

feminist reading uncovers the differences between genders and how they limit women

silence & voice

3rd step

find moments of females speaking and being quiet, and if they matter in decision making

due to patriarchy, women are ignored

examine customs

4th step

feminist theory questions practices that uphold patriarchy

reimagine from feminist pov

5th step

imagine how the story could be different if women’s worth was not related to childbearing or housework

summarize feminist reading

6th step

what does the story reveal abt women’s position?

study how lit reflects gender roles in real life

amador daguio

born jan 8, 1912 in laoag, ilocos norte

wrote wedding dance

graduated from up in 1932 and studied at stanford after

taught at university of the east, university of the philippines and philippine women’s university

died 1966