Question

During the Feminist Phase (1880–1920), women writers primarily focused on:

• A. Romantic fiction
• B. Political and social issues such as gender equality
• C. Writing in imitation of male styles
• D. Avoiding literature altogether

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Political and social issues such as gender equality

During the Feminist Phase (1880–1920), women writers primarily focused on political and social issues such as gender equality. This phase, as outlined by Elaine Showalter in Towards a Feminist Poetics, was characterized by:

• Direct activism in literature – Women writers used their works to critique patriarchal oppression and demand equal rights.

• Themes of suffrage, education, and independence – Many works focused on women's legal rights, social roles, and access to education.

• A challenge to male dominance in literature – Writers sought to expose gender biases in society and literature.

Prominent writers from this period include Charlotte Perkins Gilman (The Yellow Wallpaper), Virginia Woolf (early works like A Room of One’s Own), and Kate Chopin (The Awakening), who highlighted themes of female oppression, mental health, and autonomy.

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