Difference Between Feminist and Gender Criticism

The main difference between feminist and gender criticism is that feminist criticism is the literary analysis that involves a feminist viewpoint whereas gender criticism is a form of literary criticism that involves both feminist and masculinist approaches as well as queer theories.

Modern feminist literary criticism finds most of its roots in the second-wave feminist movements. Gender criticism, on the other hand, began as an offshoot of literary criticism. Both of these forms of literary criticisms explores how gender and sexual identity influences the creation and reception of a literary work. Furthermore, some tend to use the two terms feminist and gender studies as synonyms as these two studies are similar. However, there is a distinct difference between feminist and gender criticism, as mentioned above.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Feminist Criticism
     – Definition, Characteristics
2. What is Gender Criticism
     – Definition, Characteristics
3. What are the Similarities Between Feminist and Gender Criticism
     – Outline of Common Features
4. What is the Difference Between Feminist and Gender Criticism
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Feminist Criticism, Gender Criticism, Literary Criticism

What is Feminist Criticism

Feminist criticism or feminist literary criticism is the literary analysis that arises from the perspective of feminism or feminist theories. In other words, it uses the ideologies of feminism to critique a literary work. Feminist criticism describes and evaluates the ways in which literary works represent the narrative of male domination by analyzing the economic, political, social, and psychological forces found within the literature. Furthermore, feminist criticism does not only analyze how a literary work is created, but it also evaluates how it is received by the audience.

Given below are some methods/techniques used in feminist criticism:

• Analyzing relationships between the literary text and concepts about power and sexuality and gender
• Deconstructing the women characters in novels, dramas, biographies, etc., especially if the author is male
• Deconstructing how an individual’s own gender influences how he or she reads and interprets a text, and how the reader identifies with characters depending on the reader’s gender
• Critiquing language that enforces patriarchal values
• Observing the differences in the writing styles of men and women
• Examining how relationships between men and women, including power relations, are depicted in the text

What is Gender Criticism

Before learning about gender criticism, it is important to know what exactly is meant by the term gender. Gender is not the same as sex. It actually refers to social and cultural differences between men and women, instead of biological differences. Gender criticism refers to a form of literary criticism that is based on gender studies. It explores how gender influences the creation and reception of literary work. In fact, the basis of gender criticism is the concept that gender is a social construct, and that is reflected in our culture and social, political, economic, educational, and religious institutions.

Although gender criticism began as an offshoot of feminist criticism, it is not only limited to feminist theories. Unlike feminist criticism, gender criticism includes masculinist approach as well as queer theories. Masculinisim or masculinist approach basically deals advocacy of the rights or needs of men and boy. Queer theory, on the other hand, includes theoretical concepts that centre gay and lesbian people. In short, gender criticism suggests that power is not just patriarchal – men dominating women, but it suggests that power is multifaceted.

Similarities Between Feminist and Gender Criticism

• Both explore how gender and sexual identity influences the creation and reception of a literary.
• They recognize that stereotypes and other cultural assumptions are reflected as well as shaped by literature.

Difference Between Feminist and Gender Criticism

Definition

Feminist criticism is the literary analysis that arises from the perspective of feminism or feminist theories, while gender criticism is the literary analysis that arises from the perspective of gender studies.

Theories Involved

Moreover, feminist criticism mainly involves idealizes from feminism or feminist theories, whereas gender criticism involves feminist theories, masculinity theories, as well as queer theories.

Conclusion

Feminist criticism and gender criticism are two closely related literary criticisms. The main difference between feminist and gender criticism is that feminist criticism is the literary analysis that involves a feminist viewpoint whereas gender criticism is a form of literary criticism that involves both feminist and masculinist approaches as well as queer theories.

Reference:

1. “Gender Criticism What Isn’t Gender.” Scribd, Scribd, Available here.
2. “Critical Approaches to Literature” The University of Mississippi, Available here.
3. Napikoski, Linda. “What Is Feminist Literary Criticism?” ThoughtCo, ThoughtCo, 11 Aug. 2019, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Gender signs” By AnonMoosI, (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia