Living a Feminist Life (in Literature)

Using Sara Ahmed’s provocative mix of theory, memoir, and literature in her book Living a Feminist Life as a key text, this class considers several organizing questions: what does a feminist life look like in our present moment? How can contemporary and historical literature ranging from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice to Celeste Ng’s Little Fires Everywhere help us understand the intersecting roles of race, gender, socioeconomic circumstances, and sexual orientation in female lives? We will read poetry, nonfiction, plays and novels as we consider how literary writers have grappled with questions about navigating girlhood, female friendships, the importance of education, and reproductive rights. Authors may include Jane Austen, Emily Bronte, Margaret Atwood, Toni Morrison, Elena Ferrante, bell hooks, Audre Lorde, Kimberly Belflower, and Tara Westover. As needed, we will explore feminist and queer criticism in conjunction with our literary readings.