Preliminary Draft

Taylor Briggs

Gideon Burton

Fundamentals of Literary Interpretation

June 11, 2013

Feminism: Defending vs. Ranting

            Literature has a way of explaining the ideologies of the world during it’s time period. In the Victorian Literature Age up till about the 60’s, feminist literature was very prominent. Women were trying to gain their God given rights and to escape from the bland lifestyle that had become accepted for them as a woman. Though not everyone agreed with feminism, and the argument could be made that some went overboard, the case is not whether or not the feminist movement was the best for society, but how it was able to relate to other’s and their opinions, and how it no longer does this today. If society is to look into feminist literature, they should look into writings that were written in the Victorian Age up until the early 60’s because they have common ground for all readers to relate instead of just one opinion for one group.

            The writings by authors like Kate Chopin and Betty Friedan were able to explain the emotions of these women who felt trapped while still recognizing the other people with different opinions. In one of the most influential writings of the genre of feminist literature, The Feminist Mystique, it goes into the idea of housewife’s wanting more purpose than to just raise children and be a good wife. She did not discourage motherhood or marriage, but said that they wanted more to their lives. It does not say that men are evil, being a mother is bad, or that it’s either education or a family. She instead speaks of research based on housewife’s dealing with depression and exhaustion based on depression and how they wanted more for their lives so they could feel fulfilled. Kate Chopin writes stories that delves into women gaining an awareness of their emotional, sexual and intellectual needs and for them seeking after it. As I read The Awakening, I struggled with the adulterous nature of the main character because she was breaking from her social expectations to seek after her wants. Even though I did not feel like the main character made the correct decisions, I began to understand why she did and was able to recognize those feelings even in my modern world. Though I did not agree with the story, I was able to understand it and even relate to it enough to enjoy it. Another story written by Kate Chopin was “The Story of an Hour”. This story was able to address the widow’s acceptance and even excitement at a life where she is able to take control of her life and to seek happiness for herself. She still loves her husband, but there was a part of her excited for the life ahead of her. When her husband returns, appearing not to be dead, she dies of sadness. Though this story appears to be exaggerated to me, I feel like I can understand that excitement of being your own person.  Chopin’s widow, Mrs. Mallard, experiences something unique, especially to be spoken about at the time. The woman did not despise her husband, but simply wanted for more in her life. Everyone wants to be more than someone who simply existed.

            Many of the modern day writings from the feminist genre are attempting to continue creating these arguments and different views to uphold their organization. They are not fighting for the right to vote or for the right for a woman to gain an education to get a meaningful career. Now, the fights become further sexualized and focus on genders and gender roles, themselves. In an attempt to eradicate these set roles for genders, they write more intense and sensual writings to “wow” their reader and to get their attention long enough to read what they had to say. As I looked at the feminist genre on Goodreads, I looked at titles of the most popular within the feminist genre. I saw titles like “The Vagina Monologues”, “Cunt: A Decleration of Independence”, and “Female Chauvinist Pigs: Women and the Rise of Raunch Culture”. These books revolve around the sexual nature of women using everything from over the top words, subjects and titles to grab the attention of others. I began to look into the summaries of each story and I saw things pertaining to not being responsible or capable of having children, wanting or needing to be able to fit the quality of man, whether it be physically, emotionally, mentally or sexually or just being able to talk about sex and desire without any boundaries. One of the more popular stories written in 1985, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, contained a world after the United States where women were no longer allowed to read or gain an education. This woman basically became nothing but a sex object, only valued if she could become pregnant. This world appeared to be a rant against men, and was further down the path of unbelievable. It’s this writing that has very little to relate to and very little to understand for someone who is not a part of the ideology that creates a problem. They have a small audience that continually becomes smaller. It has gone from defending and empowering women to ranting about whatever needs be to “wow” whoever they can.