INTRODUCTION

TO
FEMINIST
CRITICISM
FEMINIST CRITICISM

1. Introduction
2. History of feminism
3. Significant people
4. Questions to ask yourself
5. Check your understanding
6. How to analyse text as
feminist critics
7. Analysing text (Animal Farm)
8. Analysing text (A Girl Like
That)
9. Activity: Word Search
 VOLUME 3, ISSUE 3
FEMINIST CRITICISM

INTRODUCTION

FEMINIST CRITICS...
Focus on finding any evidence regarding gender inequality. They advocate for
women's rights on the premise of equality.

WHAT IS FEMINIST CRITICISM
KEY TERMS:
Misogynist: someone
who hates women
Misogyny: hatred of
women
Stereotypes: mistaken
idea or belief many
people have about a
thing or group
Gender roles: how
someone is expected to
act, speak, dress, groom
 
" Feminism is a belief that women and men
are inherently part of equal worth. Because most
societies privilege men as a group, social
movements are necessary to achieve equality
between women and men, with the
understanding that gender always intersects with
other social hierarchies” (Freedman 7). Feminist
Criticism is a form of literary criticism that's based
on feminist theories. It's understood to be
concerned with the politics of feminism, and uses
feminist aspects to critique any anti-feminist
literature. Looking deeper into the social,
political, economic and psychological oppression
of women. We are able to identify any sexism or
inequality targeted specifically towards females.
HISTORY OF FEMINISM .
Wild

FACTS

Globally, 12 million girls

each year get
married before the age of
18

Only 6 countries give

Women across the globe have been struggling to gain women equal legal work
rights that are equal to men in the society. Striving to
obtain respect, equality, and the same rights as men
rights as men
in society. However, this has been difficult due to
patriarchy, an ideology whereby, men are always
considered to be superior to women, and have the right
to control women. This thought has spread widely
among the social structures of society, having a great
impact on females. Thus resulting in many people to
take action against this mindset and fight back.

SIGNIFICANT/
HISTORICAL EVENTS

Feminist history can be divided into three waves...

The first wave,  in the 19th and early 20th century, was
mainly concerned with women’s right to vote.

The second wave,  in the 1960s and 1970s, refers to the

women’s freedom movement for equal/legal and
social rights.

The third wave, beginning in the 1990s, refers to a

continuation of, and a reaction to, second-wave
feminism.
 SIGNIFICANT
PEOPLE

Mary
Wollstonecraft

First wave
A feminist philosopher and English writer, Mary Wollstonecraft
(1759-1797) Mary’s work from 1792, ‘A Vindication of the Rights
of Women’, challenged Rousseau’s theories about how women
were not as important as men.

Simone de
beauvoir

Second wave
French writer and philosopher Simone de Beauvoir (1908-
1986) called out the patriarchy system for all its flaws.
Focusing on how patriarchy often includes any social,
political, or economic mechanism that evokes male
dominance over women.

Naomi wolf

Third wave
Naomi Wolf (born 1962) had a monumental impact on the
third wave of feminism with her 1991 bestseller, "The Beauty
Myth".
 QUESTIONS TO ASK
YOURSELF
AS FEMINIST CRITICISM

When analyzing any text, it is important

to ask yourself questions. Feminist
critics are constantly asking questions to
have a better understanding of what
they are reading.

How is the relationship between men and women portrayed?

What stereotypes targeted towards females can you identify?
How are male and female roles defined?
What constitutes masculinity and femininity?
How do characters embody these traits?
Do characters take on traits from opposite genders? How so?

Key aspects

Discrimination and exclusion on the

basis of sex and gender       
 objectification
Structural and economic inequality
Power and oppression
Gender roles and stereotypes
CHECK YOUR
UNDERSTANDING

With a partner or in groups, answer

the following questions to check your
understanding...

1. Why is it important that we analyse a text from a feminist critic

point of view?

2. What do feminist critics look for when analysing a text?

3. What caused these significant event to occur (ie: 1st wave)?

4. What do the three feminists from the 1st, 2nd and 3rd wave
all have in common?
HOW TO ANALYSE A TEXT
AS FEMINIST CRITICS
Consider the questions from the previous page
while following these steps...

1. List down all female characters

Example: Jane, Maryam, Katie, Molly

2. How are they described in appearance?

Example: Tall, Long hair, beautiful

3. Their occupations/ roles/ characteristics

Example: House wife, police officer, Mother figure

4. Create a chart contrasting the two genders...

(Appearance, Personality, Characteristics)
Example:
 FEMINIST CRITICISM

ANALYZING TEXT AS
FEMINIST CRITICS
Animal Farm by George Orwell

Animal Farm short novel about a group

of animals who take control over
the farm they live on. Though the leaders
all happen to be male animals who begin
to exploit the others. Not many female
characters were mentioned, however here
is the information given...

Characters and Their Roles:

Clover Mrs. Jones Molly

Point: Clover plays in a
caring and nurturing role
of the other animals.
Described as the mother
figure.
Evidence: "a stout
motherly mare approaching
middle life, who had never
quite got her figure back
after her fourth foal." (26)
Point: Portrayed as
Point: Shows Mrs. Jones
gullible/less intelligent.
as a coward. Portrayed
Described as "foolish"
as weak and dependent
and "pretty". As well as
on her husband.
easily seduced by
Evidence: “Mrs.JOnes Mr.Jones.
looked out of the bedroom
Evidence: “At last the
window, saw what was
moment Mollie the foolish,
happening, hurriedly flung a
pretty white mare who
few possessions into a
drew Mr.Jones trap, came
carpet bag, and slipped out
mincing daintily in chewing
of the farm by another way.”
at a lump of sugar.” (27)
(39)
 CONTRAST CHART

Male characters Female characters

All leaders were men “for of Clover portrayed as

late he had taken to
speaking of Napoleon
under the title of ‘Leader’”
(79)
No leadership roles were
brought upon the female
characters
Reveals that the male
characters didn’t see
females to be in the role of
leadership or intelligence
Boxer described as " strong
as any two ordinary horses
put together" (26)
Selfless, nurturing for
others
Reproducing, playing the
role of a mother on the
farm
Molly described as foolish
“The stupidest questions of
all were asked by Mollie the
white mare.”
Shows Molly as lazy “On
every kind of pretext she
would run away from work
and go to the drinking
pool" (61)

With this, the following statement can be made...

Stereotypes and gender roles as well as
discrimination targeted towards females are
issues that frequently occur throughout the plot
of the novel Animal Farm.
 FEMINIST CRITICISM

ANALYZING TEXT AS
FEMINIST CRITICS
A Girl Like That by Tanaz Bathena

Zarin, an Indian teenager who lives in present day

Saudi Arabia with her aunt and uncle. She is
constantly called out by her fellow classmates
because she is "different". She does not follow
the rules and could not care less about  being
modest when roaming the streets of Jeddah.

The author, who grew up in

Mumbai, Jeddah, and Toronto
expresses her childhood in Saudi
Arabia with a clear focus. The fact
that girls lack freedom and self-
determination; women are
governed by their husbands and
sons, they are not allowed to
drive or leave the house alone;
boys who observe their fathers’
behavior are conditioned to treat
women with no respect.
OBSERVATIONS
A Girl Like That

Who is the main female character? How is

she described throughout the novel? Throughout the novel,
women are expected to
Zarin Wadia, Intelligent, witty, and sharp- cover themselves and
stay modest around
tongued. She goes on countless adventures men. Men were shown
with many of her boyfriends and is the topic as the leaders and
of discussion throughout school. Zarin is excessively more
dominant over their
portrayed as a "time passer" as she goes on wives/daughters/sisters.
multiple dates while promising each of them Women were shown
her love and affection. Her life is described oppressed and would be
more likely to be
as lonely and chaotic all until she meets a punished/blamed if
boy named Porus, who completely changes going against the rules in
the way she looks at things.  Saudi Arabia.

Significant Quotes

“My mother turned to her instrument even more after father

married Jawahir (55).”
“In this world, no one cares if you are starving to death. No one
even looks at you. They only care when you start doing things they
don't approve of - like dancing with your clothes off.”
“I've discovered the secret to successful singled-om. I'm acting like a
man. And it's working.”
"where veiled women with hennaed fingernails" (22)
"Maybe it was simply the novelty of being able to leisurely stare at a
boy without Masi constantly hovering around me like a bulldog"
 FEMINIST CRITICISM

ACTIVITY TIME
REVIEW