FEMINISM

MELC: Critique a literary selection based on a feminist approach.

OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lesson, 85% of the learners will be able
to:

1. Read critically a story demonstrating feminism.

2. Evaluate a story using the feminist approach.

 REVIEW OF THE PREVIOUS LESSON

An approach to diagnosing political and social problems in terms of

the struggles between members of different socio-economic classes

The lens of Marxism provides a bigger picture in understanding the

class relations and social conflict to advocate social transformation.
TASK 1. Using the organizer below, list the things
that women were not allowed to do before and
those they can do now. Do it in your notebook.
THINGS TO REMEMBER:

Feminist criticism is concerned with

"the ways in which literature (and
other cultural productions) reinforce
or undermine the economic, political,
social, and psychological oppression of
women".
Feminist criticism is also concerned with
less obvious forms of marginalization such
as the exclusion of women writers from
the traditional literary canon.
 WHAT DOES FEMINIST CRITICISM DO?
It observes, analyzes, and challenges:
• The language, institutions, and power that have
reflected patriarchal interests and had a profound
impact on women’s expression and quality of life
• Women’s resistance and subversion of patriarchal
oppression
• Empowerment for women through representation
Common Space in Feminist Theories
Though a number of different approaches exist in feminist criticism,
there exist some areas of commonality. This list is excerpted from
Tyson (92):
1. Women are oppressed by patriarchy economically, politically,
socially, and psychologically;
2. In every domain where patriarchy reigns, a woman is other: she is
marginalized, defined only by her difference from male norms and
values.
3. All of Western (Anglo-European) civilization is deeply rooted in
patriarchal ideology, for example, in the Biblical portrayal of Eve as the
origin of sin and death in the world.
Common Space in Feminist Theories

4. While biology determines our sex (male or female),

culture determines our gender (scales of masculine
and feminine).
5. All feminist activity, including feminist theory and
literary criticism, has its ultimate goal to change the
world by prompting gender equality.
6. Gender issues play a part in every aspect of
human production and experience, including the
production and experience of literature, whether we
are consciously aware of these issues or not.
Guide Questions
A. How are women’s lives portrayed in the work?
B. Is the form and content of the work influenced by the writer’s
gender?
C. How do male and female characters relate to one another? Are
these relationships sources of conflict? Are these conflicts
resolved?
D. Does the work challenge or affirm traditional views of women?
E. How do the images of women in the story reflect patriarchal
social forces that have impeded women’s efforts to achieve full
equality with men?
Guide Questions
F. What marital expectations are imposed on the characters?
What effect do these expectations have?
G. What behavioral expectations are imposed on the characters?
What effect do these expectations have?
H. If a female character were male, how would the story be
different (and vice versa)?
I. How does the marital status of a character affect her decisions
or happiness?
TASK 2
Answer each of the following questions with 1 or more
complete sentences. Write your answer in your
notebook.

1. In the first two paragraphs, what evidence shows

that others perceive Mrs. Mallard as weak and
fragile?

2. What was life like for Mrs. Mallard in the home of

Brently Mallard?
TASK 2
3. In Paragraph 12, what inference can you make
about the role Mrs. Mallard played in her marriage?

4. In the final paragraph, the doctors claim to know

why Mrs. Mallard’s heart gives out. What do they
mean by “joy that kills”? In other words, why do the
doctors think she died?

5. Why is the doctor’s diagnosis an example of

dramatic irony? (What do we know about Mrs.
Mallard that none of the other characters know?)
WRAPPING UP!