Feminist criticism is all about understanding the inequalities in a patriarchal society.
Questions Feminist May Ask
- What does the work reveal about how patriarchy operates? Power dynamics- where?
- Understanding how the patriarchy operated in an artifact will show you the power imbalance and what aspect of life the author is trying to criticize. The dynamics in the story can affect the whole meaning or purpose of the text.
Pros of theory
- focus on creating a fair society
Cons of theory
- undermine men’s rights
contributors
Julia Kristeva and Cixous were French feminists who expanded on psychoanalysis and created feminist criticism because they wanted to bring the subconscious awareness of patriarchy and other unfair power men have over women. Simone Beauvoir was another contributor who didn’t want women to be dependant on in relation to men as there was no culture outside of patriarchy.