Feminist Literature

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Feminist Literature: An Examination of the Effects of Colonization of Women by Men When it comes to post-colonial literature, most initially think about the colonization of other countries and how it has affected the natives. Though it is the most well known form of post-colonial literature, it is not the most wide-spread. By slightly altering the framing in which one looks at it, the idea that feminist literature by women from a patriarchal society is post-colonial literature begins to make sense. Instead of looking at a country, region or civilization of a people under colonial rule, this framing looks at women as the colonized natives. It is first necessary to understand what colonization is and how women fit into the role of being colonized. Colonization occurs when another people decide that they either want the “land” and “resources” or they feel that it is their duty to help the natives who are less than them. At this point, it’s pertinent to know that the role of the colonizers is played by the men of the world. Under this idea that they are colonizing women because, “it’s for their own good,” Michelle Lelwica argues, “Women’s dissatisfaction with their bodies is rooted not primarily in biological or psychological imbalances, but in oppressive gender norms many women internalize,” (21). This dissatisfaction among women is nothing new, because women have been undergoing the process of colonization for hundreds and hundreds of years. It is out of greed, the cultural belief of superiority and the inability to see women as people: “Women are not only associated with and defined by the ‘inferior’ realm of flesh (while men represent ‘mind’ and ‘spirit’) but they also are told they must rise above their carnal appetites,” ... ... middle of paper ... ...ng whether or not feminist literature is post-colonial or not, there should be no shadow of a doubt that the answer is yes, it is. Works Cited Lelwica, Michelle, Jenna McNallie, and Emma Hoglund. "SPREADING THE RELIGION OF THINNESS FROM CALIFORNIA TO CALCUTTA: A Critical Feminist Postcolonial Analysis." Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion (Indiana University Press) 25.1 (2009): 20-41. Academic Search Premier. Web. 15 July 2014. Neuman, Shirley. "'Just A Backlash': Margaret Atwood, Feminism, And "The Handmaid's Tale.." University of Toronto Quarterly 75.3 (2006): 857-868. Academic Search Premier. Web. 17 July 2014. Schüssler Fiorenza, Elisabeth. “Feminist Theology as a Critical Theology of Liberation.” University of Notre Dame. (1975) 605-626. Google Scholar. Web. 16 July 2014. Atwood, Margaret. The Handmaid’s Tale . New York: Anchor Books, 1986. Print.

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