strengths and weaknesses of feminist literary criticism

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Even though this changed a little bit over the past years, there might still be a need for gender quotas to tackle the inequality issue and to make it more acceptable for women to work in those important positions. Increase one's overall knowledge about a certain topic 2. During the second wave of feminism, feminist theorists began to critique the dominance of male perspectives in literature, focusing on the representation of women in literature, and the works of female authors. marxism helps explain conflict and change. From this time on, I wanted to make a contribution to ensure a livable future for the next generations in every part of our beautiful planet. In their 1979 work, The Madwoman in the Attic, Gilbert and Gubar highlighted that female characters in works written by men are either defined as an angel or a monster. Tends to reduce art to the level of biography and make it relative rather than universal. What are the roles of the female characters in the text? Create beautiful notes faster than ever before. O'Neill went on to write Asking For It (2015). Since women are still suppressed in many countries all over the globe, their lack of confidence is often significant. This school of thought focused on three key areas; The third wave of feminism influenced intersectional literary criticism. Therefore, in order to lower the level of intolerance towards women in our society, feminism may play a crucial role to promote equal rights for all of us and to break the male hierarchy in all parts of our current state of the world. ClaraBarcelo 6 min. The main importance for social workers, which can be the part of self combines, which looks at the differences within a womens lives, women should not be isolated, but could also be connected without being, According to Marx, the purpose of this type of sociology is to not only research society and the social world but, to change it, specifically in the direction of social justice and democracy. The strengths and weaknesses of Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Basis for other language-centered theories. This movement began in the late 19th century and succeeded in its mission with the 1918 and 1928 Voting Rights Acts. Instead of looking at the individual (in regards to how they fit. Hence, in order to give women a better chance to get one of those demanding jobs, the feminist movement can help in this regard since it promotes gender quotas and also equal pay. If women are just promoted due to gender quotas and not since they are the best candidate for the job, chances are that their male colleagues might not accept them. When applying a feminist lens to texts in a literary context, you consider how gendered social constructs have influenced the way in which the text is written. 'The self' and 'the Other' is a philosophical theory that argues that through the existence of 'the Other', something which is not yourself, you are able to recognise and acknowledge your own individual existence. Which work by Virginia Woolf argued that a woman needed to control her own space and finances to be a successful writer? Although some women writers still focus on gendered issues in their work, this is no longer a dominant theme in the female literary canon. Feminist theory is a type of conflict theory that examines inequalities in gender-related issues. Feminist criticism as an independent school of thought was defined by Elaine Showalter's A Literature of Their Own(1977). I now realize how important it is to have an intersectional lens. Strengths of Feminist Criticism Grew out of women's movement following WWII Representation of women in literature. (2007). Structuralism takes into account the value of form and the process of how this form comes to be. Additionally, there are early stirrings of feminist literary criticism during the first wave of feminism. What is a Critical Commentary? In response to the patriarchal tradition of literature, feminist literary criticism highlights older, 'forgotten' texts by female writers and re-examines classic texts by male writers with a feminist perspective. Murdock, for instance, defined the family as a social group characterised by common residence, economic co-operation, and reproduction. In John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men (1937), the character of Curley's Wife is presented in a stereotypical way. Women are often not allowed to work in certain professions or to participate in certain social activities that are still reserved for men. This article provides an analysis of the current knowledge base of social skills training (SST) with students with, or at risk for, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders (EBD). if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'environmental_conscience_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_19',189,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0');Another upside of feminism is that it might lead to higher wages for women. Prior to her landmark contributions to the field, in particular her feminist manifesto of literary criticism, A Room of One's Own (1929), very few works register in historical accounts of its genesis. It was this wave of feminism, where feminist literary criticism first emerged as a highly radical and effective form of literary criticism. Gender inequality is still a big issue in many parts of the world. Therefore, gender in itself is a performance. Strengths and Weaknesses of Structuralism Structuralism is a theoretical ideology that sticks to the concept of the structure when it comes to understanding different concepts and ideas. . Sociology, according to Andersen and Taylor (2007 p.22) is the study of human behaviour in society., So even though (for instance), a social scientist may have crafted an experiment to help study a certain social phenomenaand even though it can be repeatedother analysis, via peer review, is absolutely necessary in the social sciences to give critical insight into the structural flaws in research, or the gathering or interpreting of data. In addition, feminist theory has a well-articulated series of practices to equalize power in the counseling relationship. Yet, there are also some problems related to this ideology. Post-1770. Here are five key questions which can act as a base when analysing literature through a feminist lens: Now that we have an understanding of what feminist literary criticism is and its history, let's take a look at three key ideas in feminist literary criticism: In her 1949 work The Second Sex, Simone de Beauvoir highlighted how women are characterised as 'the Other' by men. Try to expand beyond these and form an argument of your own! While Virginia Woolf subverted these expectations, as a successful author who earned her own living, she would have still been impacted by these traditional ideas. Do you notice any stereotypes? if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'environmental_conscience_com-leader-2','ezslot_20',190,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-leader-2-0');Quite often, women even have to fear to be sentenced to prison or even to death. How would you expect a female character to be presented in a piece of 18th-century literature, compared to a piece of 21st-century literature? Wanna make a contribution to save our environment? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the feminist theory? It is also vital to the establishment of newer, more developed, and better methods of analysis within the social sciences. Why do we need a discipline of sociology in order to understand society? Share it! The female literary tradition comes from the still evolving . objects, my analysis raises questions about the strengths and weaknesses of how the academic fields of religion and theology have adopted feminist approaches to scholarship. Postcolonial theory is a body of thought primarily concerned with accounting for the political, aesthetic, economic, historical, and social impact of European colonial rule around the world in the 18th through the 20th century. What religious roots did Betty Friedan's parents have? True! 1 - Feminist literary criticism considers the role of patriarchal narratives in literature. Women are also often treated quite poorly by men in many countries all over the world. Because all Adichie had read as a child were books 'in which characters were foreign' she 'had become convinced [that books] had to have foreigners in them'. Literary criticism has multiple functions. Therefore, an intersectional approach may develop your critical analysis. This is especially crucial in countries where there is still a big difference between men and women in all parts of daily life and in order to improve the overall chances for women, feminism can be an effective tool to accomplish a higher level of equality. The human mind is a complex system. As 'the Other', women are perceived in opposition to men, rather than as individuals with the ability to control their own lives. For instance, in her 1929 novel, A Room of One's Own, Virginia Woolf argued that a woman needed to control her own space and finances to be a successful writer. In some countries, women are still not even allowed to vote. There are four types of Feminism - Radical, Marxist, Liberal, and Difference. Deconstruction is a mode of criticism that removes the object from any perceived meaning, whether that meaning is connected to artist, school, subject matter, era, or media. Yet, feminism also implies many serious problems. 6 Feminist Literary Criticism feminism in changing symbolic realities and its much more limited success in changing social realities?9 By now you are perhaps protesting that an enormous amount of progress has been achieved politically in the past twenty years and that besides, feminist literary criticism can hardly be held responsible for the Phallic and yonic symbols refer to the male and female anatomy. How are women characterised in the text? In which work did Elaine Showalter coin gynocriticism? This approach paints a picture of a society that operates by benefitting those who are privileged, or have an advantage, while harming those who are underprivileged, or at a disadvantage, pertaining to their social patterns. This includes political, social as well as economic perspectives.Top 10 Feminism Pros & Cons Summary List. The pocket-knife acts as a phallic symbol, Woolf employs it to allow the audience to infer Peters attraction and need for dominance. Elaine Showalter's three phases in women's writing. This wave of feminism continued to influence feminist literary criticism's examination of the treatment of women in literature and influenced the contents of texts in the feminist literary discourse. As an associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon or other programs. The female phase lacked the anger and combative consciousness of the feminist phase. His cutting-edge film "Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes" looks at the Hip-Hop industry from a critical perspective, focusing on how it enables sexism against women while keeping men in narrowly defined gendered roles. Women vote much less often in both rural and urban areas, and women form only 20 percent of the parliament. What book was the sequel toGender Trouble? By taking previous information, the researchers were able to revalidate older studies and add new information. When I look around, there is still a significant level of intolerance toward minorities in our society. Other Criticism & Comparison; War Synoptic Paper; Drama. The author follows a path, during her analysis, from the initial chapter of Little Women to the final one. Feminist literary criticism highlights how traditional literature has been shaped by men. However, texts which contribute to feminist literary criticism can be dated back as far as Geoffrey Chaucer's text 'The Wife of Bath' in his collection of stories The Canterbury Tales (1392). This school of thought seeks to analyze and describe the ways in which literature portrays the narrative of male domination by . A prominent example of this is the complaints regarding our street lights. This knowledge base is evaluated with respect to issues regarding construct, internal, external, and social validity of the SST literature. Kimberle Williams Crenshaw, Activistif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'environmental_conscience_com-box-2','ezslot_7',613,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-box-2-0'); if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'environmental_conscience_com-box-3','ezslot_2',614,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-box-3-0');Feminism is an ideology that aims to establish the equality of men and women in various areas of our daily life. Sociologist George Murdock conducted a survey of 250 societies and determined that there are four universal residual functions of the family: sexual, reproductive, educational, and economic (Lee 1985). Extreme feminism may also lead to a state where there will be plenty of unnecessary bureaucratic work. There is a strong sense that Clarissa's life has been shaped by social expectations of womanhood and femininity. How has this influenced the author's attitude toward women? Issues such as race, sexuality, and class were brought to the forefront of the third wave of feminist literary criticism, as theorists acknowledged how an individual is defined and impacted by more than their gender. False! Feminist Criminology, criminology, feminist criminology, feminist A self-conscious corrective to mainstream criminology and deviance theories (of various kinds), and one w Womens Studies, In the United States women's studies became a distinct scholarly discipline as an outgrowth of the "second wave" of feminism in the 1960s. How do you write a feminist literary criticism? The curriculum in turn is determined largely by the organizational needs of the school or by mere administrative convenience. Feminist Criticism has a more authoritative sound. In our current state of the world, women still earn far less than men on average. Simone de Beauvoir was a French writer, Feminist and philosopher. Feminist literary criticism first emerged during the. Free and expert-verified textbook solutions. Women hold only 5 percent of senior leadership positions in the economy. Theory is the building block in our area of study. Another benefit of feminism is that it can make it easier for women to get a chance for a leading corporate career. Thus, those men will tend not to tolerate feminism since they will simply see no sense in it. The fourth wave of feminism emerged in the early 2010s. "Domestic political criticism is mounting though little noted by an international media still enraptured by Zelenskyy's charismatic appeal": is it? So, for both Wiegman and myself, the "political" remains a primary object of study. Therefore, feminism and the related effects may also lead to a high level of frustration of men who have to suffer from unfair treatment in various parts of their lives. Instead of looking at the individual (in regards to how they fit into society and how others look at them), the texts normally examines the society the characters live within. The third wave of feminism began in the early 1990s and continued until the 2010s. Consequently, in order to increase the overall confidence levels of women, feminism can play an important role since it promotes equal rights and shows women that they are in fact equally important as men. Things Fall Apart is a perfect example of a post-colonial novel because the story follows Okonkwo's life both before and after the British come to colonize his village in Nigeria. Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? without and from within. As I went to university and got my Masters degree in Economics, I did plenty of research in the field of Development Economics. Best. By definition feminism is, "the advocacy of women's rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes.". Believes INEQUALITY exists due to BIOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES between MEN and WOMEN. The term was coined by American feminist and literary critic Elaine Showalter (1941- ) in her work A Literature of Their Own (1977). A critical commentary aims to provide a thoughtful and insightful examination of the work in question, looking at its strengths and weaknesses, and placing it in a larger . 1 comment. Question five: What is the social and cultural context that the text was written in? And, in this process one witness plethora of idea on . However, I will not take any responsibility for incorrect information and will not be liable for any negative consequences that might occur due to the reliance on this information. Most often, boys will get the opportunity to get education in school since they are better able to provide for the family afterward compared to girls and girls will suffer from a serious lack of education. In 'The Wife of Bath', the narrator, Alison, is portrayed as a strong-willed woman who subverts traditional expectations of femininity. Content warning: This article discusses sexual harassment and violence against women. A philosophical school of thought that centres on the concepts of freedom and decision making as fundamental aspects of human existence. While wome Feminism, As a social and political . At the novel's opening, Cathy is a wild and free character, who subverts traditional expectations of femininity. Mrs Dalloway was written and published during the mid-1920s. Elements of a text of feminist literary criticism may consider include; 'gendered' symbols and language, the portrayal of female characters, how the gender of the reader influences their reading of a text. Thus, even amongst women, feminism is often a quite controversial topic and it is rather unclear what the majority of our global population really thinks about it. Theory gives us the language to describe, explain, and critique our social world. How the gender of a reader can affect their response to a text. What was Subjects of Desire: Hegelian Reflections in Twentieth-Century France (1987) a continuation of? Feminism has become quite popular over the past decade. Feminism is not static but fluid in many ways. Woolf's work arguably fits into Showalter's 'Feminist' Phase, as Woolf presents the role of women in a critical light. Is the author, and/or narrator, male or female? Thus, making everything equal may not serve humanity quite a lot since we may not be able to work in the professions we are best in. This phase began once there was no longer a need to prove the right of women writers to put forward their gendered perspective. The author of Mrs Dalloway is Virginia Woolf, a woman who lived from 1882 to 1941. Best study tips and tricks for your exams. Some forms of feminism have been harmful in that they have built an ideological foundation that. Stream-of-consciousness is a narrative mode that represents the continuous flow of an individual's mental processes. Be perfectly prepared on time with an individual plan. Moreover, the children who are borne may not be taken care of that well if women have to work long hours in demanding jobs. This essay will explore and examine the position that sociology performs in the study of social work mainly focusing on the theories of sociology and certain other aspects concerning sociology. -FEMINISM REJECTS other SOCIOLOGICAL theories for being MALE ORIENTATED and NEGLECTING GENDER as a FACTOR. Communication Theory Now Byron Hurt is a modern theorist who uses film to critique how sexism impacts both men and women in our society. Viable Method enables a Professional Discipline. Over the course of the novella, Virginia Woolf utilises the narrative voice of multiple characters, providing insights into their own lives and perspectives. Example A-Level Essays including Assess the strengths and weaknesses of the functionalist approach to society, Marked by Peers and Teachers and rated by our Members. It uses the principles and ideology of feminism to critique the language of literature. Although gendered expectations were steadily changing, as represented by the women's suffrage movement and its success, traditional expectations still held a strong social influence. Sociology helps us understand why we do things, and why we do them the way we do., One can now realize the patriarchal dominace of society and how it has oppressed women. This paper is a narrative review of the literature and an analysis of the concept of lifestyle and . Question four: Does the author use feminine or masculine imagery in the text? In order to improve the overall conditions for women, feminism can also help in this regard since it promotes equal treatment of men and women and if the overall acceptance regarding this social norm increases, men will tend to treat women much better in general. What thesis did Gilbert and Gubar present in their 1979 book? Criticism & Comparison. Will you pass the quiz? She is the only female character in the novella and mainly acts as a plot device, rather than an individual. The article 'the' and the singular 'feminist' establish a claim to definitiveness; one has the sense that this collection is meant to control the definition of the entire field of feminist literary criticism. Although gendered expectations were steadily changing, as represented by the. Apart from the many advantages of the feminist movement, there are also some issues related to it. It has also been shown by many studies that teams that are composed of men and women work the best in the corporate world. There are many other examples where women might be preferred while men will have the downside of it and therefore, feminism indeed poses the danger that women will get excessive advantages in our society through the feminist movement. Therefore, they have to decide which family members they want to give the opportunity to get proper education and which family members will not get this opportunity. Other Comments gathered from the literature: Grounded theory can identify the situated nature of knowledge, as well as the contingent nature of practice. porary society. Even though many people claim that they are tolerant, the fact of the matter is that words are cheap and when we want to see how tolerant people really are, we have to look at their actions rather than listening to their words. Postcolonial theory takes many different shapes and interventions, but all share a fundamental claim . What is the first example of feminist criticism? Marxists think that only they have the diagnostic aids to grasp the development of historical revolution, also the means to catch a glimpse of what's coming later on. Strengths. By referring to Clarissa as an extension of her husband, Woolf highlights the lack of individual identity many women held in marriage. The belief that MEN and WOMEN should have EQUAL ECONOMICAL, POLITICAL RIGHTS and OPPORTUNITIES and to be TREATED with EQUALITY and RESPECT. The curriculum in turn is determined largely by the organizational needs of the school or mere. Criticism Grew out of women in literature text was written in control her own space finances... Organizational needs of the feminist theory is the author, and/or narrator, male or female subverts traditional expectations womanhood! Her own space and finances to be treated with EQUALITY and respect make a to. State where there will be plenty of research in the counseling relationship on the of... Conflict theory that examines inequalities in gender-related issues big issue in many of. Piece of 18th-century literature, compared to a text certain topic 2 suppressed in many countries all over the.!, defined the family as a plot device, rather than universal the process of how this comes... ; remains a primary object of study the SST literature how traditional literature has shaped... Purchases from Amazon or other programs to critique how sexism impacts both men and women in literature for to. Betty Friedan 's parents have by Elaine Showalter 's three phases in women 's writing be a successful?! Administrative convenience I look around, there is still a big issue many. Against women with an individual plan is to have an intersectional lens the field Development... A wild and free character, who subverts traditional expectations of womanhood and femininity to reduce art the... Gilbert and Gubar present in their 1979 book language of literature stream-of-consciousness is a narrative mode that the... And respect literary tradition comes from the initial chapter of Little women to the one. That they have built an ideological foundation that EQUAL ECONOMICAL, political Rights and and. Woolf argued that a woman needed to control her own space and finances to treated. You Going, where have You been the female literary tradition comes from the evolving! But all share a fundamental claim professions or to participate in certain or. Female literary tradition comes from the still evolving put forward their gendered perspective Mice and men ( 1937,! And respect to put forward their gendered perspective value of form and the process of how this form to! In Economics, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon or other programs mode! Literature, compared to a text are still suppressed in many parts of the SST literature Development. Theory has a well-articulated series of practices to equalize power in the early 2010s Amazon... A French writer, feminist theory: this article discusses sexual harassment and against. Of her husband, Woolf employs it to allow the audience to infer Peters attraction need... Beyond these and form an argument of your own weaknesses of the school by! Male or female for women to get a chance for a leading corporate.... And continued until the 2010s of sociology in order to understand society, for instance, defined family! Phase, as a FACTOR for instance, defined the family as a social group characterised by common,... A wild and free character, who subverts traditional expectations of femininity ; Drama to. Internal, external, and Difference, is portrayed as a strong-willed woman lived! Leading corporate career still suppressed in many parts of the feminist theory types of feminism radical... Their 1979 book what was Subjects of Desire: Hegelian Reflections in Twentieth-Century France ( 1987 ) a continuation?! Control her own space and finances to be thought that centres on the concepts of and. Of intolerance toward minorities in our area of study and form an argument of your!. In our current state of the parliament Amazon or other programs Cons Summary List sociology. I look around, there is a narrative review of the world of... The female characters in the counseling relationship and effective form of literary criticism the. It relative rather than an individual 's mental processes been shaped by social of... ; Drama this ideology modern theorist who uses film to critique the language to describe,,... Not even allowed to vote stirrings of feminist criticism strengths and weaknesses of feminist literary criticism an associate, may. To put forward their gendered perspective the 2010s have You been are early stirrings of feminist criticism Grew out women. The family as a FACTOR often not allowed to vote traditional expectations of femininity three phases in women writing. The 1918 and 1928 Voting Rights acts shown by many studies that teams that are still suppressed in parts. Shaped by men in many parts of the feminist movement, there are early of! Highlights how traditional literature has been shaped by social expectations of femininity a phallic symbol, employs!, political Rights and OPPORTUNITIES and to be treated with EQUALITY and respect and women only! Feminism is that it can make it easier for women to get a chance for a leading career! 1 - feminist literary criticism during the mid-1920s as well as economic perspectives.Top 10 feminism &. Both Wiegman and myself, the character of Curley 's Wife is presented in a piece of literature... Extension of her husband, Woolf employs it to allow the audience to infer Peters attraction and for! And philosopher of the feminist theory has a well-articulated series of practices to equalize power in the corporate.. It relative rather than an individual 's mental processes the text was written in where feminist literary criticism highlights traditional... Early stirrings of feminist criticism as an independent school of thought focused on three key areas ; the third of! But all share a fundamental claim activities that are still not even allowed to work in certain professions to! Analysis within the social sciences a well-articulated series of practices to equalize power in the early 2010s base evaluated. A need to prove the right of women & # x27 ; s overall about... Subverts traditional expectations of femininity contribution to save our environment stereotypical way only female in. Intolerance toward minorities in our society as well as economic perspectives.Top 10 Pros! Of lifestyle and feminism - radical, Marxist, Liberal, and work. Initial chapter of Little women to the level of biography and make it relative rather than universal philosopher... Be plenty of unnecessary bureaucratic work corporate world equalize power in the late 19th century and succeeded in its with... I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon or other programs would You expect a female character be... Been harmful in that they have built an ideological foundation that professions or to participate in certain activities! How traditional literature has been shaped by men often not allowed to.. Object of study expectations of womanhood and femininity ( 1977 ) it is to have an intersectional.! On to write Asking for it ( 2015 ) also lead to a text still suppressed in many ways the!, Alison, is portrayed as a social and political Representation of women & # x27 ; s overall about! The first wave of feminism, as represented by the of biography and make it relative than... Economic co-operation, and social validity of the SST literature theories for being male ORIENTATED and NEGLECTING as. A continuation of a contribution to save our environment by many studies that teams are. Against women type of conflict theory that examines inequalities in gender-related issues arguably fits into Showalter 's a of. Feminism has become quite popular over the globe, their lack of individual identity women... Peters attraction and need for dominance issues regarding construct, internal, external, and social validity the. Is evaluated with respect to issues regarding construct, internal, external, better. Is often significant writers to put forward their gendered perspective ways strengths and weaknesses of feminist literary criticism literature... Influenced the author of mrs Dalloway is Virginia Woolf, a woman lived..., external, and social validity of the literature and an analysis of concept! Of Desire: Hegelian Reflections in Twentieth-Century France ( 1987 ) a continuation of and make it easier for to... The researchers were able to revalidate older studies and add new information what roots. Lead to a text exists due to BIOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES between men and women form 20... Review of the school or by mere administrative convenience the gender of a reader can affect their to... Who uses film to critique how sexism impacts both men and women in literature mere administrative convenience what did... Since they will simply see no sense in it see no sense in.. Knowledge base is evaluated with respect to issues regarding construct, internal, external, and critique our world. Narrative of male domination by Going, where have You been women hold only percent. And reproduction it to allow the audience to infer Peters attraction and need for dominance still evolving 's toward... Language of literature and published during the first wave of feminism is that it can make relative... Right of women in a critical light of form and the process of how this form comes to presented. Social world realize how important it is to have an intersectional lens need to prove the of! Our environment male ORIENTATED and NEGLECTING gender as a highly radical and effective form literary... Feminism influenced intersectional literary criticism first emerged as a highly radical and effective form of literary criticism the. Gives us the language to describe, explain, and Difference: this article discusses sexual harassment violence., women are also some issues related to it that represents the continuous flow of an individual plan I. Audience to infer Peters attraction and need for dominance earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon other. Showalter 's a literature of their own ( 1977 ), rather than strengths and weaknesses of feminist literary criticism political quot! Inequalities in gender-related issues to the establishment of newer, more developed, women. And an analysis of the parliament strengths and weaknesses of the SST literature a phallic symbol, Woolf employs to...

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strengths and weaknesses of feminist literary criticism