The Feminine phase, as defined by literary critic Elaine Showalter, is characterized by women writers attempting to imitate male literary standards and conventions, often writing under male pseudonyms, and generally avoiding direct confrontation with societal expectations about women's roles, essentially trying to "equal" male intellectual achievements by adhering to male norms in their writing.
Key points about the Feminine phase:
Imitation of male models:
Women writers in this phase largely aimed to write like men, adopting male perspectives and literary styles.
Use of male pseudonyms:
To further blend in with male authors, women often published their work under male pen names.
Internalized inferiority:
This phase is marked by a sense of women writers feeling the need to conform to male standards and often not openly addressing issues specific to female experiences.
Time period:
Elaine Showalter typically places the Feminine phase roughly between the 1840s and 1880s.
