4: Writing about Gender and Sexuality - Applying Feminist and Gender Criticism
- Page ID
- 14803
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)- Understand the theory of feminism.
- Understand the theory of gender criticism, including queer theory and masculinity studies.
- Apply a feminist and/or gender methodology to works of literature.
- Engage in the writing process of a peer writer, including peer review.
- Review and evaluate a variety of feminist and gender papers by peer writers.
- Draft and revise a feminist or gender paper on a literary work.
- 4.1: Literary Snapshot- "Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland"
- This page explores identity themes in Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," focusing on Alice's encounters with whimsical characters and societal gender norms. It distinguishes between sex and gender, using Alice's experiences to illustrate these concepts while referencing biblical themes and critical works. The evolution of gender roles is highlighted through modern interpretations, including Tim Burton's film.
- 4.2: Feminist Theory- An Overview
- This page examines the relationship between culinary culture, gender roles, and feminist literary criticism. It analyzes recipes from a Wisconsin cookbook, showing how women's identities are tied to their domestic roles, and connects this to Susan Glaspell's play "Trifles," where the kitchen symbolizes undervalued female work.
- 4.3: Gender Criticism and Queer Theory
- This page explores gender criticism, expanding on feminist literary analysis by addressing gender and sexuality complexities, including LGBTQ perspectives. It emphasizes that identity is influenced by intersecting factors and proposes that gender roles are socially constructed. Concepts like "homosocial desire" reveal the nuances of male relationships, as seen in literature like Melville's "Moby-Dick.
- 4.4: Gender Criticism- Masculinity Studies
- This page explores masculinity studies, focusing on societal constructs of male identity and behavior. It discusses Jackson Katz's "man box," which illustrates media pressures on men to conform to narrow masculinity definitions. C. J. Pascoe highlights the effects of gay baiting in schools on enforcing these norms. Additionally, it uses Hemingway's *The Sun Also Rises* to enhance understanding of male characters and challenge traditional masculinity perspectives in literature.
- 4.5: Feminist and Gender Criticism- A Process Approach
- This page provides a structured method for writing feminist and gender criticism papers in literature. It emphasizes careful reading, formulating a central question, developing a working thesis, gathering textual evidence, and outlining. The process underscores the importance of revision and feedback to deepen engagement with the text and improve clarity and depth in writing.
- 4.6: Student Writer at Work- Gretchen Panzer’s Feminist Response to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby
- This page examines the iconic status of *The Great Gatsby*, focusing on Gretchen's paper about Gatsby's symbols and themes of idealism versus materialism. It highlights Gatsby's flawed perception of love through symbolism, particularly Daisy's objectification.
- 4.7: Student Sample Paper- Carrie Obry’s “Homoerotic Impulses in Willa Cather’s ‘Paul’s Case’”
- This page explores Willa Cather’s “Paul’s Case” through queer theory, focusing on protagonist Paul’s struggle with his homosexuality amid societal expectations of heteronormativity. It highlights his flamboyant personality, artistic aspirations, and internal conflict with compulsory heterosexuality, leading to themes of secrecy and societal rejection. The narrative culminates in Paul's tragic suicide, underscoring the tension between personal identity and societal norms.
- 4.8: Student Sample Paper- Duncan Raunio’s “The Tragedy of Performing Gender in Kate Chopin’s The Awakening”
- This page explores the societal constructs of gender roles and their impact on individual identity and relationships, specifically through Edna and Robert in "The Awakening." It examines the nuances of their connection, suggesting deeper homoerotic undertones influenced by societal expectations.
- 4.9: End-of-Chapter Assessment
- This page discusses feminist and gender criticism in literature, emphasizing the social construction of gender roles. It features Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants" to illustrate the complexities of female identity and power dynamics in a patriarchal context. The chapter also presents a structured peer-review process for students, encouraging collaboration and reflection on strengths and weaknesses in their writing.
- 4.10: Suggestions for Further Reading
- This page provides an extensive compilation of sources on feminist criticism, gender criticism, queer theory, and masculinity studies. It features key works by influential authors like Simone de Beauvoir, Judith Butler, and bell hooks, examining themes of gender, sexuality, and identity. The materials span foundational feminist literature to modern analyses of masculinities, equipping readers with a wide range of perspectives and critical frameworks crucial for engaging with these disciplines.