In society women have been faced with extreme sexism and viewed as objects for generations upon generations. This has occurred throughout all countries and cultures dripping its effects into literature. Women have been misrepresented in novels in many sexist ways and female authors had even published work under aliases at times when it was viewed negatively to write novels as a woman. Sexism has ingrained itself in society’s structures and persists as a barrier to gender equality. It is present in so many aspects of life, not limited to literature, where it shows itself through things like biased representations, unequal power dynamics, and patriarchal ideologies. How females are portrayed in literature heavily aids in shaping how genders are portrayed, everyday stereotypes, and power dynamics for the next generation. By analyzing critical theories in English literature like feminist criticism, Marxist theory, and postcolonialism, we can uncover and better understand biases and advocate for change.
Feminist critics look closely at how women are depicted in stories. They ask questions like: are female characters strong, powerful, and independent, or are they stereotyped, objectified, and pushed off to the sidelines? They dissect texts and expose the gender biases and stereotypes that might not be clear to the eye or jump out to the average reader. Through this lens, we truly can analyze the portrayal of female characters, the power dynamic, and traditional gender roles. For example, in Shakespeare’s “Othello,” after analyzing the text, feminist critics can highlight the tragic fate of Desdemona, who is constrained by the male-dominated society in which she lives. This approach reveals the patriarchal views at play and also the importance of challenging gender norms in literature and beyond. Feminist criticism allows readers to dive deeper to analyze sexism found in stories, helping us spot and challenge unfair gender norms in literature. On page 13 of “The Feminist Literary Studies and Introduction” by K.K. Ruthven, they state “Feminism is something which everybody should know about, and what better place to encourage such enquiries than the academies, skilled as they are in methods of historical investigation and critical analysis?” This is a great point, however if we want to encourage the enquiries of feminism through literature we have to make sure feminism is represented.
Marxist theory can also help explain how money and power affect sexism in stories. Marxist theory has a focus on the relation between gender inequality and class exploitation. It’s believed that a lot of women’s oppression is the product of the structures of capitalism. It’s argued that capitalism exploits women’s labor in many ways. Women are often forced into low paying jobs or unpaid domestic labor (this can be applied to staying at home as a “housewife” even when desiring a different path) within the capitalist system, contributing to more reliance on their partners and families negatively.
By looking at who has wealth and who doesn’t, we can see how women are treated unequally simply by the financial power struggle. In “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Brontë: the character Jane Eyre faces financial dependence and exploitation throughout the novel. Jane is economically vulnerable and subject to the power of her employers. Her lack of financial independence limits her options and forces her to navigate power dynamics in relationships with men who hold economic sway over her. Recognizing these flaws in literature we can see these flaws are present in society as well and we can fight for fair treatment and economic justice for all. Economic oppression is still oppression and happens most often to females and minorities. As explained by Kathryn Robinson, editor of The Asia Pacific Journal of Anthropology (1996-2012), “Marxist ideas inspired other approaches to the understanding of gender,” as a whole allowing these “new” ways of thinking.
Postcolonialism can also show us how colonialism influences sexism, gender roles, and stereotypes in literature. In books set in or influenced by colonized places, we often see women from these cultures portrayed unfairly. The novel “Heart of Darkness” is the tale of a sailor traveling the Congo river and shows the intense horrors of colonization. It’s a great example as indigenous women in this book are exoticized and put on the sidelines completely stereotyped, describing the woman as “savage” and exotic. Claude Lévi-Strauss commented on the existence of gender distinctions and the division of labor between men and women in various cultures in the “The Elementary Structures of Kinship.” He spoke about how these distinctions were reflected, specifically how rituals can contribute to these distinctions as well.
Intersectionality is stated to be “systems of inequality based on gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, class and other forms of discrimination ‘intersect’ to create unique dynamics and effects.” This relates to postcolonialism because they both explore power and oppression. They both show that oppression isn’t just one thing; it’s made up of different factors that come together. For example, someone might face discrimination not just because of their race, but also because of their gender or social class. They also both stress the importance of listening to people who have been oppressed and centering their experiences in social justice movements. This is stressed even more in “I would rather be a cyborg than a goddess” by Jasbir K. Puar. It’s stated, “In the United States intersectionality came from a very specific set of social movements, whereas in Europe, where the term is currently being widely taken up, the interest in intersectionality does not emerge from social movements (and in fact, as Yuval-Davis points out, with the exception perhaps of Britain, the efforts of migrant women to challenge dominant feminist frames went largely ignored). Rather, this newfound interest in intersectionality signals a belated recognition of the need to theorize racial difference; it also functions as a method for European women’s studies…” (Puar pg 55). Showing a direct connection between intersectionality, sexism, and postcolonialism. By recognizing these terms and their connections especially to sexism we can work towards a more inclusive and equal literary world.
In conclusion, aspects of critical theories in English literature provide necessary tools for unmasking the flaws in literature. Through many collective efforts to challenge horrendous outdated ideologies and dismantle oppressive structures, society can strive towards a future where literature includes diversity, equality, and accurate descriptions. Using this information of the flaws around us in literature, it can be used as an aid in recognizing society’s sexism and stereotyping in everyday life. Recognizing mistakes makes it much easier to ensure we don’t repeat these mistakes in the future, not just in stories. Seeing sexism more clearly in literature can allow us to push for a fairer, more balanced portrayal of genders. By shining light on these issues the world can move closer to a future where literature can reflect everyone’s experiences and promote equality for all for our future generations.
Works Cited
Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness. Blackwood’s Magazine, 1902.
“Feminism Critical Theory.” Old Dominion University, sites.wp.odu.edu/griffinengl333/theory-3/#:~:text=Feminist%20criticism%20focuses%20on%20the,created%20in%20response%20to%20patriarchy.
The Heart of Darkness: Sexism and Racism in Classic Literature. 11 Dec. 2022, ruthproj.org/blog/the-heart-of-darkness-sexism-and-racism-in-classic-literature/.
“An Introduction to Post-Colonialism, Post-colonial Theory and Post-colonial Literature.” School of Art + Art History + Design, art.washington.edu/sites/art/files/documents/about/an_introduction_to_post-colonialism_post-colonial_theory_and_post-colonial_literature.pdf.
Lévi-Strauss, Claude. The Elementary Structures of Kinship.
Puar, Jasbir K. “I Would Rather Be a Cyborg than a Goddess” Becoming-Intersectional in Assemblage Theory.
Rivkin, Julie, and Michael Ryan. Literary Theory, an Anthology. Malden, Blackwell, 1998.
—. Literary Theory, an Anthology. Malden, Blackwell, 1998.
Robinson, K. (2024). Gender, Marxist Theories of. In The International Encyclopedia of Anthropology, H. Callan (Ed.). https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118924396.wbiea2307 (https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118924396.wbiea2307)Ruthven, K.K. Feminist Literary Studies: An Introduction. 1984.
Sprockets and Springes 