本科学生毕业论文-从女权主义的角度简析爱丽丝沃克的作品.docx

The Analysis of Alice Walkers Works fromThe Perspective of FeminismAbstract: Feminism is a major source of experience in women with motivation for the social theory and political movement in order to end the sexism, sexual exploitation, sexual discrimination and sexual oppression as well as to promote the equality between men and women. The basic premise for the feminism is that the women who are under the oppression and discrimination around the world ought to have their own rights. This thesis will place particular emphasis on two works of Alice Walkers, one is The Color Purple, the another is By the Light of My Fathers Smile, and mainly study the feminism showed in her works from different angles. The practical significance of this thesis is to deepen the understanding of Walkers works and feminism via analyzing her two main novels.Key Words: feminism; Alice Walker; The Color Purple; By the Light of My Fathers Smile从女权主义的角度简析爱丽丝沃克的作品摘要：女权主义是指一种主要以女性经验为来源与动机的社会理论与政治运动，其目的是为了结束性别主义、性剥削、性歧视和性压迫，促进性阶层平等。女权主义的基本前提是：女性在全世界范围内是一个受压迫、受歧视的等级，女性应该有属于自己的权利。本论文将分析爱丽丝沃克的两部作品：紫色、父亲的微笑之光，从各个侧面分析其反映出的女权主义。本论文的实际意义在于用女权主义的眼光重点分析研究沃克的两部特色小说，使读者大大加深对沃克作品及女权主义的理解与认识。关键字：女权主义；爱丽丝沃克；紫色；父亲的微笑之光1. Introduction We are now going through an amazing and unprecedented momentwhen the power dynamics between men and womenare shifting very rapidly,and in many of the places where it counts the most, women are, in fact, taking control of everything.As the women status rising, feminism attracts our attention all the time. Feminismis a collection ideologies which share a common stated aim: to define, establish, and defendequalpolitical, economic, cultural, and socialrights for women. This includes seeking to establish equal opportunities for women in education and employment. Afeministgenerally self-defines as advocating for or supporting the rights and equality of women.The history of the modern western feminist movements is divided into three waves. Each wave dealt with different aspects of the same feminist issues. Thefirst wavecomprisedwomens suffragemovements of the nineteenth and early twentieth century, promoting womens right to vote. Thesecond wavewas associated with the ideas and actions of thewomens liberation movementbeginning in the 1960s. The second wave campaigned for legal and social equality for women. Thethird waveis a continuation of, and a reaction to, the perceived failures of second-wave feminism, beginning in the 1990s.Meanwhile, the feminism was described fully by many writers in their works. In the 70s last century, African-American literature, especially a group of black women writers rising their reputation and being famous among the literature world, was in a new situation. Alice Walker was one of them with her representative -The Color Purple, which won the Pulitzer Prize in 1983. Walker treats the female homosexual as natural and free. All of her productions appeal to this society for change, which can assist us in self-transforming and self-completion on ourselves.This thesis will analyze two articles of Walkers opuses from the perspective of feminism, one is The Color Purple, other one is By the Light of My Fathers Smile. Celie, living in such a society with no human rights, no respect, no equality, is the protagonist in The Color Purple. As a result, she does not know what is right, what is wrong, let alone resistance. After Celies spiritual death, she has done her rebirth under the guide of her friend. She realizes the possibility of her own beauty and independence. From the novel By the Light of My Fathers Smile, Alice Walker shows the patriarchy which is the root of oppression among the black women. Walker says that revolt is the key point of happiness. We are familiar with feminism in this modern society, at the same time, we protect women rights with this kind of theoretical guidance and powerful force. This thesis will study Alice Walkers works, The Color Purple and By the Light of My Fathers Smile, to research the impacts on human behaviors and social concept affected by the feminism. Only being independent on personality and economy can women get the sense of security, even respects from others. Being the rich is better than marrying the rich.2. The Brief View of the Feminism and Alice Walker2.1 The Definition and Development of Feminism Charles Fourier, aUtopian SocialistandFrenchphilosopher, is credited with having coined the word feminism in 1837. The words feminism and feminist first appeared inFranceand theNetherlandsin 1872,Great Britain in the 1890s, and the United States in 1910, and theOxford English Dictionarylists 1852 as the year of the first appearance of feminist and 1895 for feminism. Feminism is a common word about a complicated phenomenon, which cares about womens standard, searches for the equality between men and women, and strives for eliminating all the barriers preventing the liberation and development of the women.The history of the modern western feminist movements is divided into three waves. Each wave dealt with different aspects of the same feminist issues. First-wave feminismwas a period of activity during the nineteenth century and early twentieth century. In the UK and US, it focused on the promotion of equal contract, marriage, parenting, and property rights for women. By the end of the nineteenth century, activism focused primarily on gaining political power, particularly the right of womenssuffrage, though some feminists were active in campaigning for womens sexual,reproductive, and economic rights as well. Second-wave feminismis a feminist movement beginning in the early 1960s and continuing to the present; as such, it coexists withthird-wave feminism. Second-wave feminism is largely concerned with issues of equality other than suffrage, such as ending discrimination. Second-wave feminists see womens cultural and political inequalities as inextricably linked and encourage women to understand aspects of their personal lives as deeply politicized and as reflectingsexistpower structures. The feminist activist and authorCarol Hanischcoined the slogan The Personal is Political, which became synonymous with the second wave.In the early 1990s in the USA,third-wave feminismbegan as a response to perceived failures of the second wave and to the backlash against initiatives and movements created by the second wave. Third-wave feminism distinguished itself from the second wave around issues ofsexuality, challenging femaleheterosexualityand celebrating sexuality as a means of female empowerment.Third-wave feminism also seeks to challenge or avoid what it deems the second wavesessentialistdefinitions offemininity, which, they argue, over-emphasize the experiences of upper middle-class white women. Third-wave feminists often focus on micro-politics and challenge the second waves paradigm as to what is, or is not, good for women, and tend to use apost-structuralistinterpretation of gender and sexuality.Third-wave feminism contains internal debates betweendifference feminists, who believe that there are important differences between the sexes, and those who believe that there are no inherent differences between the sexes and contend that gender roles are due tosocial conditioning. Feminism has experienced three waves in the past history, but it continues up to now and we believe it will last with human beings.2.2 The Influence of FeminismThe expansion and hit of feminism around the world made a big difference on many aspects in the society. At the same time, the feminist movement has effected change in Western society, includingwomens suffrage; greater access to education; more nearly equitable pay with men; the right to initiate divorce proceedings; the right of women to make individual decisions regarding pregnancy (including access to contraceptives and abortion); and the right to own property. Civil rights From the 1960s on, the campaign forwomens rightswas met with mixed resultsin the U.S. and the U.K. Other countries of theEECagreed to ensure that discriminatory laws would be phased out across the European Community.Some feminist campaigning also helped reform attitudes tochild sexual abuse. The view that young girls cause men to have sexual intercourse with them was replaced by that of mens responsibility for their own conduct, the men being adults. Western women gained more reliablebirth control, allowing family planning and careers. In the final three decades of the 20th century, Western women knew a new freedom throughbirth control, which enabled women to plan their adult lives, often making way for both career and family. Thedivision of laborwithin households was affected by the increased entry of women into workplaces in the 20th century. SociologistArlie Russell Hochschildfound that, in two-career couples, men and women, on average, spend about equal amounts of time working, but women still spend more time on housework,althoughCathy Youngresponded by arguing that women may prevent equal participation by men in housework and parenting. In international law, theConvention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women(CEDAW) is an international convention adopted by the United Nations General Assemblyand described as an internationalbill of rightsfor women. It came into force in those nations ratifying it.Jurisprudence Feminist jurisprudence is a branch ofjurisprudencethat examines the relationship between women and law. It addresses questions about the history of legal and social biases against women and about the enhancement of their legal rights.Feminist jurisprudence signifies a reaction to thephilosophical approachof modernlegal scholars, who typically see law as a process for interpreting and perpetuating a societys universal, gender-neutral ideals. Feminist legal scholars claim that this fails to acknowledge womens values or legal interests or the harms that they may anticipate or experience.Language Proponents of gender-neutral language argue that the use of gender-specific language often implies male superiority or reflects an unequal state of society. According toThe Handbook of English Linguistics, generic masculine pronouns and gender-specific job titles are instances where English linguistic convention has historically treated men as prototypical of the human species.Theology Feminist theology is a movement that reconsiders the traditions, practices, scriptures, and theologies of religions from a feminist perspective. Some of the goals of feminist theology include increasing the role of women among the clergy and religious authorities, reinterpreting male-dominated imagery and language about God, determining womens place in relation to career and motherhood, and studying images of women in the religions sacred texts.PatriarchyPatriarchy is a social system in which society is organized around male authority figures. In this system fathers have authority over women, children, and property. It implies the institutions of male rule and privilege, and is dependent on female subordination.Most forms of feminism characterize patriarchy as an unjust social system that isoppressiveto women.Infeminist theorythe concept of patriarchy often includes all the social mechanisms that reproduce and exert male dominance over women. Feminist theory typically characterizes patriarchy as a social construction, which can be overcome by revealing and critically analyzing its manifestations.Someradical feministshave proposed that because patriarchy is too deeply rooted in society,separatismis the only viable solution. Other feminists have criticized these views as being anti-men.Men and masculinity Feminist theory has explored the social construction of masculinity and its implications for the goal of gender equality. The social construct of masculinity is seen by feminism as problematic because it associates males with aggression and competition, and reinforcespatriarchaland unequal gender relations. Patriarchal cultures are criticized for limiting forms of masculinity available to men and thus narrowing their life choices.Some feminists are engaged with mens issues activism, such as bringing attention to male rape and spousal battery and addressing negative social expectations for men.Male participation in feminism is encouraged by feminists and is seen as an important strategy for achieving full societal commitment to gender equality.Many male feminists and pro-feminists are active in womens rights activism, feminist theory, and masculinity studies. However, some argue that while male engagement with feminism is necessary, it is problematic due to the ingrained social influences of patriarchy in gender relations. The consensus today in feminist and masculinity theories is that both genders can and should cooperate to achieve the larger goals of feminism.It has been proposed that, in large part, this can be achieved through considerations of womensagency. Bright sides and sad effects are both included in feminism. Bell Blair Hooks said that as for me, insufficient movement which the feminism did not sacrifice in the fight is related to the political tradition which is in the revolution (Hooks 15). 2.3 The Introduction to Alice Walker and Womanism Alice Walker(born February 9, 1944) is an important female author and activist in contemporary America. Walker was born inPutnam County, Georgia, is the youngest of eight children to Willie Lee Walker and Minnie Lou Grant Walker who were sharecroppers. In high school, Alice Walker was valedictorian of her class, and that achievement, coupled with a rehabilitation scholarship made it possible for her to go to Spelman, a college for black women in Atlanta, Georgia. After spending two years at Spelman, she transferred to Sarah Lawrence College in New York, and during her junior year traveled to Africa as an exchange student. She received her bachelor of arts degree from Sarah Lawrence College in 1965. After finishing college, Walker lived for a short time in New York. In 1965, Walker met Melvyn Rosenman Leventhal, aJewishcivil rights lawyer. They were married on March 17, 1967, in New York City. Later that year the couple relocated toJackson, Mississippi, becoming the first legally married inter-racial couple in Mississippi. The couple had a daughterRebeccain 1969. Walker and her husband divorced in 1976. Alice Walker was active in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, and in the 1990s she is still an involved activist. She has spoken for the womens movement, the anti-apartheid movement, for the anti-nuclear movement, and against female genital mutilation. In the mid-1990s, Walker was involved in a romance with singer-songwriterTracy Chapman:It was delicious and lovely and wonderful and I totally enjoyed it and I was completely in love with her but it was not anybodys business but ours. Participation of the Civil Rights Movement was of great influence upon Walkers life and her works. She believes herself to be a black revolutionary artist. And she is dedicated to the cause of the freedom of the black people. She received the Pulitzer Prize in 1983 forThe Color Purple. She has published a number of collections of short stories, poetry, and other writings. Of particular interest to people are her novels which are full of powerful, strident stories set in Americas rural south. Her work is focused on the struggles of black people, particularly women, and their lives in aracist,sexist, and violent society. She creates a whole series of images of black woman, leading not only black women but all women to a promising future.Alice Walker is a leading figure in liberal politics. Whatever Walker does, wherever Walker is, Walker speaks for women. Feminism centers on the theory against male-domination, ignoring the black women and women in the third world. For the women of colored people, feminism is unfamiliar to them. Womanism, as a replacement of feminism, has a great popularity among colored races. Walker determined a definition for womanism, in her work, In Search of Our Mothers Gardens: Womanist Prose, she said, “Womanism is the word used by black women in their daily life to admonish their daughters for womanish behaviors. However, womanish stands for free, adventurous and brave actions that they want to acquire much more knowledge about the known things” (Walker 3).As for Alice Walker, feminism has the exclusiveness while womanism can focus on how to rally human. Uniting makes womanists pay attention to the survival and globality of men and women rather than secession, which shows the power and capability of love when the black women have been facing difficulties.3. The Analysis of The Color Purplefrom the Perspective of Feminism3.1 The Introduction to the WorkThe Color Purple tells the story about Celie. She is a poor and uneducated black girl raped by her stepfather. He even stole their children and sold the children just for money. When Celie was 20 years old, she was forced by her stepfather to marry a man who treated her as a slave. During that time, Celie lived together with her husband, do