Feminism and Gender

The other important text for this this topic is Simone de Beauvoir's The Second Sex which was first published in 1949. In this work she explores the issue of 'Woman' from a historical, psychological, philosophical, and a literary point of view. The analyses of women in fiction will be of particular interest to students of literature.

These two major sources are sometimes likened to the Old and the New Testament of feminism - a comparison which I'm sure both writers would contest.

2. Selecting your texts
This might seem rather obvious, but both essay options require you to discuss writing by women. That is, not necessarily writing about women, and certainly not writing by men.

In poetry you could choose Stevie Smith or Elizabeth Bishop. In prose Doris Lessing, Anita Desai, or Flannery O'Connor [yes, she's a woman]. Note that there are no female dramatists represented on the course. [Write to the course team with your complaints.] The texts which are almost crying out for consideration here are Adrienne Rich's poem 'Culture and Anarchy', Bharati Mukherjee's 'The Wife's Story', and the poetry of Sylvia Plath or Grace Nichols.

If you want to write about Virginia Woolf, you need to be very confident if you choose 'Kew Gardens'. It will be very difficult to demonstrate that this piece of work illustrates a female approach to writing.

3. Extra tip
Don't spend a lot of time writing about theories of feminism, or feminist writing, or ecriture feminine. Your understanding of these issues should be shown via a close examination of your selected texts. One brief introductory paragraph should be all that's required to get the assignment under way.

4. Student query - a true story
Here's an email exchange which illustrates some of the issues raised by this assignment.

" I'm about to set pen to paper once more, and would appreciate your comments on the outline of the essay (this is the part of the course I find difficult - knowing if I am on the right track or not).

"I've chosen option (b), and I am using Lawrence (as a 'negative' almost), Woolf - Kew Gardens, and poetry by Elisabeth Bishop. The basic plan of the essay is to discuss how and why women write different, historically, style, purpose etc. Then to discuss pieces from the reader, Woolf and Cixous, and their explanation of women's writing. I am intending then to discuss the texts individually, stating the individual style, how it does or does not reflect female issues or style etc. I'm not too sure as to whether or not I am supposed to think style should be different to distance itself or not. That is, Woolf's style is her own, not female especially (apart from use of colour, nature etc). Also I'm confused as to the sentimentality issue, romance etc as being soley female concerns.

Please can you help and advise as to structure."

Reply (original in red, as in emails)

> (this is the part of the course I find difficult knowing if I am on the right track or not).

other people feel the same, if it's any comfort

> I've chosen option (b), and I am using Lawrence (as a 'negative' almost)

don't - the question asks about writing by women - Lawrence was a man

> Woolf - Kew Gardens,

not an easy example - because it's very 'experimental' - and it could just as easily have been written by a man - and not much of it is to do with 'writing against patriarchy', unless you make out a very sophisticated case for the literary techniques she was trying out

> and poetry by Elisabeth Bishop.

this is a better choice

> The basic plan of the essay is to discuss how and why women write different, historically, style, purpose etc.

it's VERY difficult to prove that they write differently

> Then to discuss pieces from the reader, Woolf and Cixous, and their explanation of women's writing.

don't bother with this - the question doesn't ask for it

> I am intending then to discuss the texts individually, stating the individual style, how it does or does not reflect female issues or style etc. I'm not too sure as to whether or not I am supposed to think style should be different to distance itself or not. That is, Woolf's style is her own, not female especially

exactly!

> (apart from use of colour, nature etc).

lots of male writers are aware of colour and nature

> Also I'm confused as to the sentimentality issue, romance etc as being soley female concerns.

the question doesn't ask about sentimentality

why not choose texts which are very obviously appropriate?

Adrienne Rich 'Culture & Anarchy'
Bharati Mukherjee 'The Wife's Story'

> Please can you help and advise as to structure.

1. brief introduction

2. text number one - discussion of the issues

3. text number two - ditto

4. text number three - ditto

5. conclusion