How to Suppress How to Suppress Women’s WritingWomen’s Writing

Joanna RussJoanna Russ

She didn’t write it.She didn’t write it.

But it’s clear she did the deed.But it’s clear she did the deed.

She wrote it, butShe wrote it, but

she shouldn’t have.she shouldn’t have. It’s political, sexual, masculine, feminist.It’s political, sexual, masculine, feminist.

She wrote it, butShe wrote it, but

look what she wrote about.look what she wrote about.The bedroom, the kitchen, her family, other The bedroom, the kitchen, her family, other

women.women.

She wrote it, butShe wrote it, but

she only wrote one of it.she only wrote one of it.““Jane EyreJane Eyre. Poor dear, that’s all she . Poor dear, that’s all she

ever . . . .”ever . . . .”

She wrote it, butShe wrote it, but

she isn’t really an artist, and it isn’t she isn’t really an artist, and it isn’t really art.really art.

It’s a thriller, romance, a children’s book. It’s a thriller, romance, a children’s book. It’s sci fi.It’s sci fi.

She wrote it, butShe wrote it, but

she had help.she had help.Robert Browning. Branwell Bronte. Her own Robert Browning. Branwell Bronte. Her own

“masculine” side.“masculine” side.

She wrote it, butShe wrote it, but

she’s an anomaly.she’s an anomaly.Woolf. With Leonard’s help . . .Woolf. With Leonard’s help . . .

She wrote it, butShe wrote it, but

it’s only interesting/included in the it’s only interesting/included in the canon for one, limited reason.canon for one, limited reason.

Kate Chopin – an anomaly of subject.Kate Chopin – an anomaly of subject.Charlotte Perkins Gilman – an anomaly of Charlotte Perkins Gilman – an anomaly of

genre.genre.Emily Dickenson – an anomaly of form.Emily Dickenson – an anomaly of form.

She wrote it, butShe wrote it, but

there are very few of her.there are very few of her. Jane Austen – the female ShakespeareJane Austen – the female ShakespeareEdith Wharton – the female JamesEdith Wharton – the female James

When Anthologizing . . .When Anthologizing . . .

Delete, and then . . . Delete, and then . . .

(p. 65 of Russ)(p. 65 of Russ)

What is a Feminist Text?What is a Feminist Text?

To earn feminist approval, it must To earn feminist approval, it must perform one or more of the following perform one or more of the following functions: functions:

serve as a forum for women;serve as a forum for women; help to achieve cultural androgyny;help to achieve cultural androgyny; provided role-models;provided role-models; promote sisterhood;promote sisterhood; augment consciousness-raisingaugment consciousness-raising

Feminist LiteratureFeminist Literature

The texts must either be ‘free from or critical of The texts must either be ‘free from or critical of phallocentric masculinist, patriarchal, sexist phallocentric masculinist, patriarchal, sexist ideologies and themes or be informed by a critical ideologies and themes or be informed by a critical analysis of woman’s position in society as a analysis of woman’s position in society as a woman’ (Spedding, 1994, quoted in Joan Scanlon woman’ (Spedding, 1994, quoted in Joan Scanlon and Julia Swindells, ‘Bad Apple’ 1994, p.45).and Julia Swindells, ‘Bad Apple’ 1994, p.45).

Feminist texts ‘reveal a critical awareness of Feminist texts ‘reveal a critical awareness of women’s subordinate position and of gender as a women’s subordinate position and of gender as a problematic category, however this is expressed’ problematic category, however this is expressed’ (Rita Felski, 1989, Beyond Feminist Aesthetics: (Rita Felski, 1989, Beyond Feminist Aesthetics: Feminist Literature and Social Change (1989) p. Feminist Literature and Social Change (1989) p. 14).14).