Feminism is simply a sociological theory, which states that men and women are equal. Feminism is

The feminist movement lays claim to a history of both victorious struggle and violent controversy. As women fought for equality with men in the early twentieth century, literature was inspired by this movement. Modernist writers used their artform to provide social commentary in similar ways to realistic writers of the nineteenth century. However, modernist thought allows a much more obvious agenda to be presented through literature. Mina Loy, in “Feminist Manifesto,” and Susan Glaspell, in “Trifles,” both used their respective writings to convey personal opinions on the women’s movement and the relationship between men and women. Though this similarity places them in the same category of modernism, the two differ in their writings

What exactly is Feminism? Feminism is all about women's liberation; the liberation in a world where men are not only looked as superior, but also run the world and tell women what we can or cannot do. Feminists dream of a world where we can be treated equally as men. We do not care

A feminist lens looks at the relationships between men and women. It specifically focuses on the portrayal of women within the work of literature. It attempts to analyze how women have been affected by men and their actions. It not only works to show how women have been marginalized and suppressed by society, but also how they have been privileged. However, a “feminist lens” mustn't solely focus on femininity. It also examines the role of “masculinity” in the portrayal of men .The “feminist lens” accomplishes all of this in the pursuit of analyzing gender boundaries and norms (Delahoyde 1).

Through this book, the most important point she puts emphasis on is the acknowledgment of the complex interlocking of classism, racism and sexism. Bell Hooks is not a poor working-class any more,

The exact beginning of feminism cannot be known as it was a movement sparked in many parts of the United States by women that had finally reached the threshold of their patience with their maltreatment. Many believe feminism did not truly begin until the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848, but women had been resisting their lack of control far before then. Since the technical emergence of feminism in 1848, the goals of those women and men who have been and still are fighting have developed and adapted to fit into the societal norms of each respective time period.

Bell Hooks is one of the most important author when it comes to feminist movement. In her book, Feminism is for Everybody: Passionate Politics, she breaks down some of the barriers of the miscommunication that is seen with being a feminist.

Feminism originated during the Progressive Era. Mass meetings were held on the main question, what is feminism? Feminism is about women fighting for their equal rights to men. The purpose of feminism is so that women could have equal rights as men such as having equal pay, equal rights in their marriage and having the same education rights. Having those right protects women from sexual harassment and abuse.

Bell Hooks was born in Kentucky on September 25, 1952. She went to all black schools until she was in high school, and after the shift to an integrated school she felt that black students were seen as not “really belonging” she says this experience “taught [her] the difference between education as the practice of freedom and education that merely strives to reinforce dominance.”(teaching to transgress 4). After high school she received her bachelor’s degree from stanford university and her master’s degree from UC Santa Cruz. She experienced racial and sexual discrimination throughout her life, and when she was in college, Bell Hooks was exposed to the women’s liberation movement; a feminist movement from the 1970’s that fought for issues that affected women. This movement gave her an outlet to express her ideas about feminism. Bell Hooks fought for women’s rights through literature and created a more inclusive feminist movement by exploring how race and class factor into women’s oppression.

For the record, feminism by definition is: ‘the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities.’ It is the theory of the political, economic and social equality of the sexes. (Watson 1)

Literature changes as current events change and as the structure of society begins to shift. American feminist literature started to become prevalent during the Victorian era, or around the latter part of the 19th century. This is the time when the first wave of feminism in the United States hit. The Seneca Falls Convention - the first women’s rights convention - and the emergence of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony’s American Equal Rights Association in the middle of the 19th century are among some of the noteable events that sparked this movement in literature. Women across America were inspired by the changing of the times, and that is reflected in many American female authors’ writings.

Feminism is a body of social theory and political movement primarily based on and motivated by the experiences of women. While generally providing a critique of social relations, many proponents of feminism also focus on analyzing gender inequality and the promotion of women's rights, interests, and issues.

Feminine ideas and characters are repressed by a more dominant masculine presence. The aim of feminist criticism is to explore this repression, analyze how feminine aspects are portrayed, and expose sexism and female oppression in all types of texts. Feminist critics look to rediscover works of female writers that have been overshadowed by masculine culture. They also educate the population about the equality or

Author Rosemarie Tong in Feminist Thought: A Comprehensive Introduction suggests that feminist theory attempts to describe women’s oppression, to explain its causes and consequences, and to prescribe strategies for women’s liberation (n.p.no). Bell Hooks defines feminism as a struggle to end sexist oppression through creating equal opportunities for women by giving voice to the silence (Bell Hooks 24). Feminist theory has several functions: to comprehend the power differences amid sexes, to comprehend how women’s oppression evolves with time, how it perpetuates other forms of oppression and how to supersede this oppression.

Feminism has been dated back all the way to the puritans times till present day. The first wave of

Feminist literary criticism is essentially linked to the political movement for equality of the sexes and the end to discrimination against women. In works of art, feminist criticism wants to uncover the ideology of patriarchal society. Feminists thought that text is a mode of expression for them where actual power relations between men and women are played out. The key political and theoretical stance of Feminism is this. The inequalities that existing between men and women are social but not natural not pre-ordained but created by men themselves in order that they can maintain their power over women. The family religions, education, the arts, knowledge system all are social and cultural ‘structures’ that enable the lasted reinforcement of this inequality. Men with their ability to pertain power so that the structure convince the woman to be subordinated. Cultural structures also providing a system of