feminist theory

• looks at literature, assuming it has been produced from a male-dominated perspective

• re-examines canonical works to how gender stereotypes are involved in their functioning

• examines also works by women which may have been suppressed/minimalised

• can also consider how concepts of ‘femininity’ or 'the woman’ have been constructed by society or culture

feminist critics:

• simone de beauvior

• virginia woolf

• germain greer

examples:

• little red riding hood (brothers grimm)

  • she is portrayed as naive, needing instruction

  • nurtures her grandmother, ‘typical female role’

  • grandmother is weak n fragile herself » victimised females, RRH as well

    • universal experience

  • ‘red’ - colour of seduction, victim-blaming?

  • easily manipulated, “women don’t have minds of their own”

    • ulterior motive

    • potentially taught to be easily trusting

  • male entitlement - space

    • violence n dominance

    • male wolf » predator, aggressive

    • huntsman

      • saviour complex - damsel-in-distress

      • almost like the wolf but with different intentions

      • used physical strength over wits like the women had to

  • forest = male world, ‘complexities of life’, women unable to navigate by themself, expected to take instruction of men

    • women are expected to be more vigilant after n even then, still reliant on men