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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