CHAPTER 4: FEMINIST CRITICISM

In her 1999 Critical Theory Second Version, Tyson explored Feminist Criticism: its thoughts
and a Feminist reading of The Great Gatsby.
According to Tyson, the goal of feminist criticism is to increase our understanding of women
experience, both in the past and present and promote our appreciation of women's value in the
world. It seeks to change the world by promoting women's equality. Tyson claims that we are
adapted not to see the manners by which ladies are enslaved by conventional orientation
standards since society is immersed in patriarchy. Males are considered as powerful, rational,
determined, and protective in traditional gender roles, whereas women are the opposite of all
those aforesaid attributes of men. Gender is socially constructed rather than a matter of biology.
Gender determines masculinity and femininity. Women and men behave how they behave
because they are socially programmed to behave how the society expect them to do so and to
be. As per Tyson, this gender categories are constructed by society, which is why this view of
gender is an example of what has come to be called social constructionism. “In fact, all the traits
that we associate with masculine and feminine behavior are learned, not inborn.” (p.92) The
interconnectedness of feminism and gender studies both desire for justice and belief in the
power of education to change our society.
Patriarchy works to rationalize inequalities between men and women across society.
Whenever patriarchy wants to undermine a behavior, it portrays that behavior as feminine. In a
patriarchal ideology, they suggest two identities that a woman can have. If a woman adheres to
traditional roles and act in accordance with patriarchal rules and ideology, she is seen as a
“good girl” and if she does the opposite, she’s seen as a “bad girl.” Women's ideas, feelings,
and opinions don't matter from a patriarchal perspective unless they correspond to patriarchy's.
As per Tyson, additional strategies for getting beyond patriarchy have been offered by
French feminist; It has taken two different forms: Materialist feminism the tackles about social or
economic oppression and Psychoanalytic feminism that discusses about psychological
experience. Materialistic feminism examines patriarchal traditions and institutions that govern
the material and economic conditions in which society oppresses women whilst Psychoanalytic
feminism is concerned in the impact of patriarchy on a woman's psychological experience and
creativity focusing on the individual’s psyche.
Tyson also discussed that even within the borders of a single country, cultural differences
affect women experience of patriarchy. For example, black feminists have examined how
gender oppression is inextricably linked to racial injustice. Individuals of color, accordingly, were
in a tight spot. They could expect neither orientation fortitude from white ladies nor racial
fortitude from individuals of color the two gatherings on whom they ought to have had the option
to count for help; to sum up people of color are more mistreated by sexism than racism.
“Women will not learn to resist patriarchal thinking by becoming part of the patriarchal power
structure, that is, by obtaining equal status and equal opportunity in current patriarchal society.
For women acquisition of power within the existing social political system would not adequately
change the system.” (p.100) As per Tyson, we therefore need a new feminine language that
undermines or eliminates the patriarchal binary thinking that oppresses and silences women.
Feminist critical theory examines the oppression of women in literature, how the literature
“reinforces or undermines the economic, political, social, and psychological oppression of
women.” Since feminist issues range generally across social, political, and psychological
categories, there is also a wide range in feminist literary criticism. Feminist criticism brought
female sensitivity and sensibility to a male dominated literary establishment or canon. In
general, Tyson discussed feminist criticism on gender values and norms, sexuality, race,
ethnicity and class. The main goal of feminist criticism is to increase our knowledge of
promoting equality to give women a fair representation and treatment, not just in the literary
world but within the society.