Name: Joanna Concha B.

Tutor
Quiz Assignment No. 3

Read the assertions under each school of poststructuralist literary theory thoroughly. Comment on each assertion by giving
your own perspectives and impressions on the merits and drawbacks of each school. Make sure to stream your output for
student-to-student feedback. You are allowed to give a feedback on two streamed outputs. The highest score per feedback
is 5 points. 

Template on the Merits and Drawbacks of Poststructuralist Literary Theories

SCHOOL ASSERTIONS MERITS WHEN BROUGHT DRAWBACKS WHEN YOUR IMPRESSION AS AN

INTO THE CLASSROOM BROUGHT INTO THE EDUCATOR
(YOUR PERSPECTIVE) CLASSROOM
(YOUR PERSPECTIVE)
1. Patriarchal society When I think about the The male students might As I was reviewing and
allowed men to have merits of teaching patriarchy misunderstand that reading academic journals and
wives, women in school, all I can think of is feminism is anti-man and articles, I was made aware of
FEMINISM slaves, property the impending need to hatred of men. When in my stance as a Feminist
rights, etc. They address women’s needs fact, it is far by it. Feminism teacher. In a recent study by
denied women the and rights. I understand that is an ideology that seeks Ph.D. Warren Farrel, female
rights including the Philippines has been equality between all teachers sometimes have
property, remarry, ahead compared to its genders. Kids who are biases on male kids in
child custody, even neighboring countries in the brought up with a strong literature and reading classes.
her ovary, etc. act of equality between patriarchal family might
genders. We have two As I continue to explore such a
think they are attacked and
female Presidents, and it is emasculated with power.topic, I can’t help but ask
common to see female myself, can a person be
Because it forces them to
leaders at work and in emotionally
look closely at their egos attached to
organizations. and belief system. ideologies? Just like religion
and political views, most
However, two female If the study of patriarchy in fundamentalists who are
presidents are just a small literature will be brought closed-minded perpetuate hate
number compared to the 14 up, I suspect that there will speech and bully others for not
other male presidents, and
according to the Asean Post
(2019), there are still five
million women who are held
back to take up career
positions due to family
reasons. As a renowned
therapist, Terry Real said in
his interview we all swim in
water called patriarchy and
if we teach feminism we
would have a more fulfilled,
and satisfied generation.
be some retaliation from being on the “right side”.
male students and those An article written by Craig
who support it. Axford (2018), affirms this he
said, people are connected by
However, it’s important to DOCTRINES and not their
mention that it is not only values. A group of people who
women who are victims of shares the same ideas
patriarchy but, men too. naturally form a community
Men suffer from toxic and exclude others. This is
masculinity. Patriarchy what we call psychological
advocates the dichotomy of bias. We tend to filter the news
gender roles. The famous and articles we read to support
phrase we hear, boys will our own set of beliefs and
be boys is a common ideologies. This creates a "US-
example versus-THEM" thinking.

When we say, boys will be I think as an educator, my role

boys what does that mean
and entail? Boys are
machos, unemotional,
independent, superior to
women, and they win at all
cost.
That cost is the mental
health of our men. In a
study conducted last year
by Ph.D. Benita Chapman,
79% of the total number of
suicides were men—this is
four times higher than
women.
In conclusion, boys benefit
is to hold space for every
student’s point of view. I
fervently believe holding space
for all ideas means making
room for all of the student’s
voices to be heard. We are
now living in a globalized world
where we can easily interact
with people with different
traditions, races, languages,
beliefs, and views. To nurture
and prepare 21st-century
students in the real world, they
should learn how to have civil,
peaceful, and democratic
dialogues. If a student
presents his ideas with logical
 from deconstructing these examples, data and shares
systems of bigotry and their own experiences related
dichotomy. to the matter, then I believe I
have achieved my goal as an
It is important to discuss it, educator—to widen and
to reconstruct a culture that expand the minds of my
allows boys to show their student. As one of the goals of
emotions without deconstruction by Derrida,
repercussions and solve students should learn to think
issues without resulting in for themselves, question
violence. things, and reconstruct better
ideas.

The students might think As an educator, it is empirical

that it is irrelevant due to that we lay down the first wave
1. The first wave Learning the first wave of the changing times. Since of feminism, we also make it
feminism in Western feminism will help students we already actualize the relevant to current social and
countries was in the understand how women dream and visions of those political issues. By doing so,
19th and early 20th have been struggling to be women who have marched, we can pique the interest and
centuries as a liberal seen as realized beings with fought, and died for the curiosity of our students and
feminism aimed at imminent potentials and not equality of women in make them engage.
emancipation and just have exclusive roles as society. Some students
equality. They struggled nurturers or caretakers. might zone out and As the black American feminist
for: a) removal of Hitherto women in different disengage in the poet, Audre Lorde said, “There
barriers to women’s countries have been writing discussion because they are no new ideas. There are
participation in public books, conducting small think it might be irrelevant. only old and forgotten ones,
life, and b) inserting events, and meetings to new combinations,
women into male ways revolutionize the patriarchal However, it important to extrapolations and recognitions
of knowing and doing system. The fight for note that we would not from within ourselves — along
[girls participate in women’s equality was evolve into a better society with the renewed courage to
science, technology, influenced by liberalwithout the grounding try them out.”
mathematics and boys theories and democracy. works of our ancestors. As
in languages and C.S. Lewis said, “we need The #MeToo movement and
humanities]. Understanding the right first intimate knowledge of the Black Lives Matter did not just
 wave of feminism will lay the past because we need spur out of the blue, it is a
foundation of the something to set against cumulative work of those who
succeeding waves in the present, to remind us were fighting for equality since
feminism and how it relates that the basic assumptions the dawn of time.
to current movements such have been quite different in
as the #MeToo and Black different periods. Teaching feminism in the class
Lives Matter. is not an easy task to
In Japan and other first- undertake. However, I think it is
2. The second wave The second wave of world countries around the important to tell students that
(Western) feminism feminism was after World world, one of the pressing both men and women have
from the mid- War II from the 1960s to the problems is the declining equal rights.
twentieth century late 1980s. Men went back birthrate. Due to the
concentrated on the to their home country and second wave of feminism, This was illuminated in an
cultural features of took over the jobs of women have more choices article by Catrain Blake
female oppression women. Thus the second now. They are becoming published in 2015. She
and the structural, wave of feminism emerged. more independent and asserted: “For us to move
social and free. forward in gender equity,
psychological Understanding the rights of students should learn to
transformations to women in the workplace, One of the concerns that perceive gender differently and
achieve women’s household, education, and students may ask in the more equally. Teachers can
liberation (Rockler, religious sectors is class would be the help students break the chains
2006). Therefore, tantamount to women’s economic and social of these rigid dichotomies by
feminism not only liberation. One of the repercussions of giving teaching feminism in class.”
challenged prominent books during that women “too much”
contemporary sexual time that helped evoke the freedom. Some might think
relations and politics second wave of feminism is that it’s women’s
but produced a new the “Feminine Mystique” by responsibility to give birth
language and Betty Fredman. and reproduce for our
discursive framework To quote this poignant book, society to survive and
of: a) liberation rather “as the woman makes the thrive.
than emancipation, bed, cooks dishes, takes
and b) collectivism care of the kids, and lay in However, I believe these
rather than bed beside her husband late thoughts are fear-driven
individualism. at night—she is afraid to ask and rooted in the scarcity
 Second wave the stifling question: Is thismindset. In the past,
feminism challenged all to life?” human beings rely on three
to official (patriarchal) The prominent women in main survival skills: fight,
curricula, texts and the 2nd wave of feminism flight, and freeze. However,
behaviours and answer; no, there is more to the boom of technology
practices including life. Studying the second and education has
sexuality, femininity wave of feminism will drastically changed the
and masculinity. encourage students tocourse of mankind. We no
dream bigger, pursue their longer rely on physical
passion and realize their strength but, on creativity,
highest potential despite the intellectual and social skills
societal pressures. to succeed. And these
traits are both seen in men
The students will learn in and women. The third wave of feminism
3. The third wave the third wave of feminism advocates for female
feminism suggested the intersectionality of Since the second wave of representation in all industries
women’s issues in oppression in race, class, feminism there had been a and empower them to take up
three steps: a) the and other areas. It would be backlash against feminists. roles in society.
representation of beneficial for students to When I first heard of
female empowerment understand the evolution of feminists, I think of angry If the students don’t see
as individual feminism in different times women protesting in the themselves represented in the
transformation, b) the due to societal changes. streets. It will not be a pages of textbooks, they will
simplistic resolution of surprise if some students become absent partners in the
systemic women’s One of the key text on the would think of feminists the development of our nation. It
economic problems, third wave of feminism is same way. becomes damaging for students
and c) the portrayal of from Naomi Wolf entitled, if teachers add their stereotypes
political issues as “The Beauty Myth”. In her According to an article to the curriculum bias in books.
worthy of mockery. book, Naomi debunks the entitled Understanding the
Individual beauty standards imposed backlash of feminism by
empowerment was a on women. Most of the body Napikoski, Linda (2020),
key focus of third wave positivity posts we see the backlash are from
feminism (Rockler, online are influenced by her political leaders who are
2006). Western book. pro-choice who support the
feminists focused on This is important because it presidency of Ronald
 human rights, helps students feel more
economic exploitation comfortable and confident in
and political their skin and body.
domination (Narayan, Statistics show that 80% of
1998). young teenagers have
fatphobia (the fear of being
fat) while in the US 25% of
male teenagers are
concerned about their
muscularity.
1. Literature is a In understanding the theory
reflection of a society’s of Marxism in literature,
consciousness. (Georg students will be able to
MARXISM Lukacs, 1885-1971) valorize literary works by
recognizing, criticizing, and
self-consciously comment
on the structure of the social
conditions of the time it was
produced.
Furthermore, Marxism
encourages learners to
engage in the activity,
collaboration, and critique
rather than passively absorb
knowledge and conform to
social norms.
1. Literature and art The Marxist approach in
can affect society, analyzing literature can
even lead it to shed light to students on
revolution. (Louis how authors can manipulate
Althusser, 1918- the ideas of power by
1990) getting the sympathy of the
Reagan and some of the
backlash is from fellow
feminists.
Some students might have
negative connotations of
third wave feminism
because of the reasons
cited above.
One of the biggest
disadvantages of applying
Marxism in Literature is
that it only focuses on the
socioeconomic divide
between classes. As a
result, students might feel
restricted and impedes
their learning experience.
Karl Marx presented a
utopian world where power
struggles are eliminated
and equality is achieved
through communism.
Students might construe
In Marxism, it imposes that the
lower class is controlled by the
ruling class. It is supported by
Martin Brown (2018),
“Government and religion think
it is safest to let the lower
classes remain ignorant.”
To raise the awareness and
consciousness of the students,
it is best if the teacher will
facilitate a way for the students
on how to use Marxist Literary
Criticism in texts.
To this day, we still use art and
literature to evoke change in
our society. However, as a
teacher, we need to guide
students not to be too attached
to Marxism that it would cause
 reader and portraying the
struggles of power.
According to Marxism, the
literature reveals to the
readers the issues that
mattered in the people and
how they use entertainment
to portray power struggles.
This can be useful in
understanding history and
propaganda.
When students understand
2. Because the how the superstructure and
economic system base systems work, they
shapes the society, the would have a better
methods of production understanding of the things
are known as the that influence their behavior
base. The social, and way of thinking. Once
political, and they recognize how the
ideological systems society and environment
and the institutions that shape and influence the
they generate – the way they think, it will help
values, art, legal them become more mindful
processes – are known of what they consume.
as the superstructure.
Marxism as an ideal
society. However, as we
know by history,
communism resulted to
civil wars and destructions
to many countries. Until
this day, communism
remains an ideal.
There might be some
students who would be too
critical of the base system
that they start to blame
them for their misery and
country’s problems. This
may provoke students to
victimhood by blaming
everything on the social,
political, and ideological
systems.
a bloody revolt.
I believe the effective way of
using the Marxist approach in
literature and art is paying
attention to the explicit and
implicit meaning of the text. In
this way, students will enhance
their critical thinking.
As the cliché goes, too much
of everything is detrimental.
Studying the Marxism
Approach in literature based
on the economic system of the
society helps students
understand how the
government, media, education,
religion, literature, and arts
brainwash people to maintain
the social hierarchy. However,
over-identifying with this
ideology might result in
students blaming everything on
external factors that they forget
that they have free will.
At the end of the day, they are
still the captains of their ships
and authors of their own lives.
Instead of focusing on external
things that they cannot control,
it would be better to use their
time and energy in making a
 better future.
1. The importance Students will merit in Since the Philippines had Post-colonial literary criticism
of identifying relevant studying Post-Colonialism in been colonized for a long will help students appreciate
POST- extracts of texts in a class by having an in- time, there might be scant and respect other’s views on
COLONIALIS post-colonial writings depth understanding of how resources of post-colonial colonization and globalization
M is bound to help the history and literature were literature.
reader understand shaped by the colonizers. I was first introduced to Post-
different perspectives Post-colonial literature will Furthermore, some of Colonial theory when I was
in post-colonial integrate a strong sense of these epics had been orally studying International
writing. This nationalism to students by passed down from one Relations at University. My
understanding will in learning the historical epics generation to another Russian teacher taught us the
turn help the learner of the Philippines and take through stories and songs. different stories and
to become aware of pride in our own rich culture These epics may have perspectives of World War II in
the social aspects like before the colonization of changed over time and it Europe. I had an epiphany at
culture, custom, and the Japanese, Spanish, and would be difficult to trace that time and realized how
historical details Americans. their origins and credibility. important it is to teach students
interwoven in the text. the different perspectives of
history and literature and how
the countries who won the war
changed literature for power.
As my Russian professor said,
history is written by the victors.

2. Post-colonial Teaching post-colonial texts Most of these post-colonial Facilitating discussions and
texts are excellent in the classroom for texts were written in their activities on post-colonial texts
reference materials to language learning can be own local dialect. It might will help students cultivate a
be used by English beneficial for students to be a daunting task for deeper sense of nationalism as
language teachers to cultivate cultural awareness students and teachers to they study the English
students who belong and enhance their critical look for resources language.
to the region of the thinking. translated into English.
text. This goes on to There might be some teachers
create awareness It has been a heated debate who will argue that it will create
among teachers that whether studying English in biases on the student’s minds
the use of random schools in the Philippines but, we have been
 materials taken from paves the way for learning
the internet can be or culture decay. However,
substituted with texts with the use of post-colonial
of this nature. texts in teaching English, it
will help students maintain
their nationalism and learn a
new language at the same
time.
1.To understand and We often look and study into
interpret a text under text without first examining
NEW New Historicism, is to the author’s background. By
HISTORICISM first learn about the doing so, we fail to realize
text’s historical position the author’s own biases. In
not only in terms of implementing the new
period but also in terms historicism approach in
of the literature students will learn
author’s/speaker’s own to criticize the author’s
ethnicity, financial limitations.
conditions, and social
interactions. A prominent example of this
is the recent study of
historian Donald Yacovone
(2020), he argues that the
history books taught in
America inject white
supremacy to kids by
whitewashing the slavery of
Black Americans. He came
up with this argument while
doing some research on the
Students might have some
difficulties putting their
shoes on the authors
because of generation
gaps. It would be difficult
for students to fully
understand how the
circumstances and times
influenced the author’s
view of history.
It would be a challenging
task for the teacher to put
into context the historical
times of the literary text
and the author's
sociopolitical background.
indoctrinated with the
American education system for
so long that as Filipinos we
don’t know how to think on our
own feet anymore without
looking for approval from the
European and Western
colonizers. Using post-colonial
text in the region where the
students belong will help them
realize the richness and beauty
of our own culture.
Teaching the new historicism
approach in literature will help
educators to elicit reflections
from the students on how the
author’s sociopolitical
background might affect his
literary work. By doing so,
students will learn how to use
evidence in literary analysis
and argumentation.
On the other hand, the teacher
needs to ensure the students
have enough understanding of
the historical times of the text.
Teachers should give concrete
relevant examples of the
historical times so, students
can relate with the author and
his literary texts.
 history of America.
He was deeply shocked that
the authors of the history
books were all white middle-
class men and they did not
include the black Americans
in their texts.

Teaching intertextuality in
2. New Historicism literature will help students Applying intertextuality in
promotes intertextual valorize texts by comparing Students might derive literary criticism will evoke
readings. Students are them with other translations different meanings and students’ curiosity and
trained to cross the and texts. When students interpretations of a discrete encourages them to have
boundaries of other recognize and understand literary text. If the teacher critical viewpoints on the text.
disciplines and see how intertextuality in literature, it does not facilitate the class
different texts will lead them to a much well, students will be However, the teacher must
correspond to one richer reading experience as confused with the practical have a strong understanding
another.  it sheds a new layer of meaning of the text. and knowledge of the literary
interpretations, context, text to effectively facilitate
ideas, and stories into the class discussions and eschew
discrete text. confusion.

New historicism is a viable

3. By exposing educational approach in New historicism focuses on the
social realities, New understanding literary texts. Multiculturalism dismantles personal and historical context,
Historicism allows It allows students to see the central cultural this process promotes self-
students to use how the text is interrelated paradigm and it might lead reflection which is conducive
discussion and skills with the institutions and the to tension in the classroom for eliciting deeper interactions
in literary analysis to social and cultural realities. environment. with ethnic and cultural history.
broaden their As a result, it opens the This will help students become
multicultural classroom in a more diverse People from different a globally literate workforce in
education. and larger world view. When cultures have different the future.
students learn to expose views and outlooks on life.
social realities and reflect on These differences might When two opposing ideas or
 them, it will allow them to
have an open discourse
with others. In this way, it
will generate and enhance
classroom discussion
surrounding the literary text.
result in segregation within
the class and disintegrate
the relationship of the
students.
culture interacts, it may result
to conflict. However, as Brene
Brown (2017) suggested in her
book, Braving the Wilderness,
conflicts exist for us to have to
better understanding of each
other and make our
relationships stronger. She
suggested that it takes
courage and curiosity to move
past our own biases. When we
start to be courageous enough
to go out of our comfortable
ideologies and worldviews, it
helps us understand “the
other”. As teachers, we need
to model to students how to
communicate our differences
in a healthy manner and help
students understand that our
strength lies in our differences,
not in our similarities.

References
Axford, C. (2018, April 09). Here’s The Biggest Problem With Ideology These Days. Retrieved from Medium:
https://medium.com/s/story/the-biggest-problem-with-your-ideology-is-that-its-an-ideology-2c06ec398098

Blake, C. (2015, march 17). What Should K-12 Students Learn About Feminism? Retrieved from Resilient Educator:
https://resilienteducator.com/classroom-resources/k-12-students-feminism/

Brown, B. (n.d.). Braving the Wilderness. 2017: Random House.

Chatmon, P. B. (2020). Males and Mental Health Stigma. American Journal of Men's Health.
Farrell, W. (2018). The Boy Crisis. BenBella Books, Incorporated.

Linardon, D. J. (2020, january 7). The Ultimate List of Body Image Statistics. Retrieved from break binge eating: 2020

Mineo, L. (2020, September 4). How textbooks taught white supremacy. (D. Yacovone, Interviewer)

Napikoski, L. (2020, January 24). Patriarchal Society According to Feminism. Retrieved from ThoughtCo:
https://www.thoughtco.com/patriarchal-society-feminism-definition-3528978

The ASEAN Post Team. (2019, August 21). Filipino women not moving up the ladder fast. Retrieved from The ASEAN Post :
https://theaseanpost.com/article/filipino-women-not-moving-ladder-fast