The rise of women in literature in 20th century

Task 1 

The first decade of the twentieth century was characterized by industrial and technological changes. Most citizens appreciated the transformation however others perceived the side-effects of the modern modernity. By the 1900s, a new crop of woman was emerging; one that was ready to define herself outside the conventional roles. Writers such as Rebecca Davis were writing about how women were seeking lives outside the conventional norms (Gilbert & Gubar, 2007). The equality of women at this time was reflected by their involvement in political movements such as temperance movement and socialism; such freedom enabled women to write creative and political texts that addressed the issues affecting women at the begging of the century. An example of such a woman was Rebecca West in her novel The Judge which expressed her concern on rape, illegitimacy and motherhood. Her previous book The Return of the Soldier in 1918 explored the false traditions and desexualization of the traditional marriage a factor that evidenced the gender equality happening during this time (Wisker, 2017). 

At the turn of the twentieth century, women from other races were involved in wring about the world around them hence reflecting some sort of racial equality (Humm, 2015). Women from other ethnicities and races wrote at the beginning of the twentieth century. Asian-American women such as Edith Maud Eaton who wrote at Sui Sin Far published stories such as Mrs. Spring Fragrance which explored the lives of Asian families living in San Francisco and Seattle. Anita Desai an Indian-German novelist reveal’s in her writings Royalty that leaving India freed her tongue. In India, Desai was a typical housewife, and her writing was completely subservient to the conventional roles of being a mother and a wife. Maya Angelou was an African-American author who outlined on her struggles growing up black and how she felt displaced. Nonetheless, Maya Angelou an African-American South westerner toured Europe as an entertainer and resided in many countries around the world. Angelou published her first book which experienced critical success despite her gender status or race. 

Task 2 

Most women writers highlighted bear an identity that touches on more than one culture. The women who identify with more than one culture provide a unique perspective in their writings. Sui Sin Far an Asian-American writer was considered a determined author who was able to champion the Chinese and working class women at a time when Chinese immigrants were forced to confront the oppressive stereotypes that characterized the Asian woman (Gilbert & Gubar, 2007). The women who identified with different cultures provided perspectives from both communities that helped the readers understand the struggle of fitting in. this point is described by Maya Angelou who describes her displacement when she worked as a streetcar conductor in San Francisco and a victim of sexual abuse. Maya Angelou’s writings describe the struggle of growing up and living in America as a woman and particularly an African-American in the face of pride and prejudice experienced in the United States at the time. 

Anita Desai identified herself with two cultures with extreme oddities; her writings reflect on the diverse and exquisite eastern (India) and western (German) cultures. Although they lived in India, and her German mother adopted to the culture, Anita Desai always felt displaced in India. It was this perspective as an outsider that helped her provide a unique perspective on the oppressive culture of women in India; when she lived there her writing career was forced to be subservient to her roles as a wife and mother. However when she moved from India she went on to publish several acclaimed writings. Her writings Royalty provide a unique perspective of the familial responsibilities and relationships which she considers restricting while at the same time sweet. 

References 

Gilbert, S. & Gubar, S. (2007) Norton anthology of literature by women, Volume 2 (3rd ed.). W.W.Norton & Co. 

Humm, M. (2015).  A readers guide to contemporary feminist literary criticism . Routledge. 

Wisker, G. (2017).  Post-colonial and African American women's writing: a critical introduction . Macmillan International Higher Education.