Second-wave feminism

notion takes shape in Robertson Davies’s 1970 novel, Fifth Business. The novel presents an interesting debate over whether or not it is a feminist text since it was written by a non-feminist man. However, Fifth Business was authored during the second wave of feminism, a prominent movement which focused heavily on gynocriticism, defined as a form of feminist literary criticism that “seeks to appropriate female literacy” (O’Connor), and consequently may have had unknowingly had an effect on the…

Women’s activist Marilyn Loden derived the phrase “glass ceiling” in 1978. A metaphor for the barrier that keeps women from rising beyond a certain level in a hierarchy, this phrase served as an inspiration for women apart of the second and third wave feminism movements. In particular, women experience a glass ceiling within the workplace, as women are unable to achieve higher-up positions within their specific field of work. Even further, those who do manage to secure a rank equal to their male…

(201). Tita seems to regain some of her lost power, using the food she creates to express what her mother has forbidden her from speaking. At Rosaura’s wedding to Pedro, the cake that Tita baked caused all of the guests to be “flooded with a great wave of longing…” and eventually become violently ill (Esquivel 39). Tita’s power over both her sister and mother continues when she is magically able to nurse her niece and…

I am Woman, Hear Me Roar: Relationships and Power in Magical Realism In his novel, Chance, author Joseph Conrad famously said, “Being a woman is a terribly difficult trade since it consists principally of dealings with men” (314). Conrad, it seems, is often correct – scores of novels focus in part, if not exclusively, with the relationship and accompanying power dynamic between men and women. For centuries, authors have explored different methods by which to more deeply probe the power struggle…

some way explain the causation of domestic violence, the superior theory that explicitly justifies why domestic violence occurs is the feminist theory, in particular, radical feminist theory. The Radical Feminist Theory emerged out of the second wave of feminism which was in the 1960s and 1970s focuses on the main cause of woman oppression and domination typically from male supremacy and patriarchy. In comparison to the radical feminist theory, strain theory and social…

Mary Wollstoncraft was one of the most sensational writers in the 18th century. Not only did she advocate for the right of women, as we will speak about more into detail as we talk about her work Vindication of The Rights of Women, but an author who wanted to bring equality to a society that was out of balance. As mentioned before we will talk about Vindication of The Rights of Women and further detail why and what Mrs.Wollsetencraft was trying to prove and bold on. Mary Wollstoncraft wanted…

CONCLUSION (THESIS 21.6.15) Poems by women writers on motherhood and mothering, discussed so far conform to the feminist theorization of motherhood both as a subjugating political institution and an enriching personal experience. The poems may not be exclusively written to expose or explore the themes of motherhood alone, but their approach to this topic is extra ordinarily rich and varied, offering fresh insights into how sexual politics and the related institutions, like marriage, religion,…

marked lesbian culture as ‘distinct’ - namely butch/femme identities - have been replaced by the modern lesbian. The butch/femme lesbian dichotomy of the early twentieth century challenged society’s definition of being female, but the rise of lesbian feminism and the “new lesbian” critiqued this traditional approach as ‘heterosexual roleplay’ and resulted in a shift towards a new lesbian culture altogether. Lesbians in the twentieth century existed in a culture that actively and openly…

Important articles included coverage of the 1974 Ashland Women’s Festival and “(Hetero)Sexual Politics by Su Negrin,” an article discussing the oppressive forces of patriarchy and how political feminism and political lesbianism could combat this oppression. The copies of this newspaper available at the University of Oregon Special Collections Library belonged to Ruth and Jean Mountaingrove, prominent figures in the Southern Oregon Women’s…

From the Women’s Rights Movement, to today’s college campuses, women have been expressing their feelings towards the issue of sexism through writing. Sexism has left women feeling weak, unimportant, and worthless. However, writers have managed to use their craft to call out the sexist acts around them and bring awareness to the tough topic. Today, women continue to speak out against sexism, trying to finish the work of those that came before them. 1851, Sojourner Truth delivered a passionate…