Etymology of Écriture Féminine
“Écriture Féminine” is a French term that translates to “feminine writing” in English. It was coined in feminist literary theory during the 1970s as a response to the male-dominated literary canon.
The term “écriture” means “writing” or “inscription,” and “féminine” means “feminine” in French. This concept aims to foreground and celebrate women’s voices and experiences in literature, challenging traditional norms, exploring female subjectivity, and deconstructing gender stereotypes through innovative writing styles and themes. Interestingly, it intends to do/achieve all within the framework of women’s unique perspectives and experiences.
Meanings of Écriture Féminine
| Aspect | Description |
| Female Subjectivity | It underscores the significance of female subjectivity in literature, aiming to give voice to women’s experiences, thoughts, and emotions. It often challenges conventional, patriarchal literary forms and styles by offering unique perspectives. |
| Body-Centered Writing | This aspect explores themes deeply connected to the female body, including menstruation, childbirth, and sexuality. It does so to subvert the historically male-centered and patriarchal representation of the female body in literature, offering alternative narratives. |
| Fluidity and Playfulness | Écriture féminine encourages writers to adopt a more fluid and playful approach to language and narrative. This can manifest through unconventional narrative structures, wordplay, and the use of fragmented or poetic language, all to challenge traditional, linear storytelling. |
| Rejecting Phallogocentrism | A core tenet of Écriture féminine is its challenge to the dominance of what is known as “phallogocentrism” – the male-centered, patriarchal language and discourse that has historically shaped literature and culture. Writers and theorists following this approach seek to deconstruct and subvert these established structures. |
| Collective Expression | Écriture féminine can be viewed as a collective expression of women’s voices and experiences. It often draws on the shared experiences of women to create a sense of solidarity and empowerment among female writers, fostering a community of diverse voices. |
| Diversity of Voices | While Écriture féminine highlights the distinctiveness of women’s writing, it also emphasizes that there is no single, monolithic “feminine” voice or style. Women writers come from diverse backgrounds and have unique experiences. Écriture féminine, thus, celebrates this diversity by embracing a multitude of perspectives. |
| Influence on Feminist Lit. | Écriture féminine has left a lasting mark on feminist literature and theory, particularly in the fields of women’s studies and literary criticism. It has inspired writers and scholars to explore innovative approaches to both writing and analyzing literature from a feminist perspective, contributing significantly to the evolution of feminist discourse. |
Écriture féminine: Definition as a Rhetorical Term
Defintion of “Écriture féminine” is a theoretical term in feminist literary criticism that originated in the 1970s, primarily associated with French feminists such as Hélène Cixous and Luce Irigaray. It represents a style of writing that seeks to break away from traditional patriarchal linguistic structures and embrace a more fluid, embodied, and personal form of expression. This concept emphasizes the importance of women’s experiences and voices in literature and challenges conventional norms of language and narrative.
Écriture Féminine: Theorists, Works and Arguments
Theorists:
- Hélène Cixous: A prominent French feminist theorist associated with Écriture féminine. She co-authored the influential essay “The Laugh of the Medusa,” which is a foundational text for the movement.
- Luce Irigaray: Another influential feminist thinker who contributed to Écriture féminine. Her work, such as “Speculum of the Other Woman,” explores issues of language, sexuality, and femininity.
Works:
- “The Laugh of the Medusa”: Co-authored by Hélène Cixous, this essay argues for women to reclaim their voices and their bodies in writing. It emphasizes the importance of writing as a means of self-expression and empowerment.
- “Speculum of the Other Woman”: Luce Irigaray’s work challenges traditional representations of women in literature and language. It explores the concept of sexual difference and how it relates to language and culture.
Key Arguments:
- Female Subjectivity: Écriture féminine emphasizes the importance of female subjectivity in literature. It seeks to give voice to women’s experiences, thoughts, and emotions, often in ways that challenge traditional, male-dominated literary forms and styles.
- Body-Centered Writing: One central idea is the connection between women’s writing and the female body. It often explores themes related to the female body, including menstruation, childbirth, and sexuality, as a way to challenge the historically male-centered representation of the female body in literature.
- Rejecting Phallogocentrism: Écriture féminine challenges the dominance of what is called “phallogocentrism,” which is a term used to describe the male-centered, patriarchal language and discourse that has historically shaped literature and culture. Feminist writers and theorists who adhere to Écriture féminine seek to deconstruct and subvert these dominant structures.
- Collective Expression: It can also be seen as a collective expression of women’s voices and experiences. It often draws on the shared experiences of women to create a sense of solidarity and empowerment.
- Diversity of Voices: While Écriture féminine emphasizes the distinctiveness of women’s writing, it also recognizes that there is no single “feminine” voice or style. Women writers come from diverse backgrounds and experiences, and Écriture féminine celebrates this diversity.
- Influence on Feminist Literature: It has had a significant influence on feminist literature and theory, particularly in the fields of women’s studies and literary criticism. It has inspired writers and scholars to explore new ways of writing and analyzing literature from a feminist perspective.
Écriture Féminine and Literary Theories
| Écriture Féminine and Literary Theories | Relevance and Key Points |
| Feminist Literary Theory | – Amplification of Women’s Voices: Écriture Féminine prioritizes giving voice to women’s experiences, thoughts, and emotions in literature. – Intersectionality: It aligns with intersectionality, recognizing that women’s experiences are shaped by factors like race, class, and gender. – Challenge to Gender Norms: Écriture Féminine challenges traditional gender roles and narratives, promoting a more diverse and inclusive literary landscape. – Subversion of Female Bildungsroman: It subverts the traditional female bildungsroman genre to reflect the unique journeys of women. |
| Poststructuralism | – Deconstruction of Patriarchal Structures: Écriture Féminine engages in the deconstruction of patriarchal language and narrative structures, aiming to subvert their influence. – Language and Identity: It explores how language constructs gender and identity, aligning with theories of performativity and the textuality of gender. |
| Psychoanalytic Theory | – Exploration of the Female Psyche: Écriture Féminine delves into the female psyche, often exploring subconscious and repressed experiences. – Challenging Traditional Psychoanalysis: It challenges and reinterprets traditional psychoanalytic concepts of femininity and sexuality through literary expression. |
| Queer Theory | – Fluidity of Gender and Sexuality: Écriture Féminine embraces the fluidity of gender and sexuality, challenging fixed notions of identity. – Inclusivity: It contributes to a more inclusive literary landscape by amplifying LGBTQ+ voices and experiences. – Queering Traditional Canons: Some works within Écriture Féminine may engage in queering traditional literary canons, further expanding perspectives. |
Écriture Féminine: Examples in Literature
- “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman:
- Explanation: Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s short story exemplifies Écriture Féminine. Presented in the form of a journal, it chronicles the descent into madness of a woman afflicted with postpartum depression. Isolation prompts her to perceive a woman trapped within the room’s yellow wallpaper. The story serves as a powerful critique of the patriarchal medical establishment and the constraining societal norms of the 19th century.
- The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood:
- Explanation: Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel investigates themes of female subjugation and resistance within a totalitarian society. Narrated by Offred, a woman forced into the role of a “handmaid” for reproductive purposes, it employs Écriture Féminine to delve into Offred’s inner thoughts, emotions, and memories. This narrative approach provides a nuanced and personal perspective on the female experience within a dystopian world, challenging conventional gender norms and exploring the consequences of patriarchal control.
- The Awakening by Kate Chopin:
- Explanation: Published in the late 19th century, Kate Chopin’s novel tells the tale of Edna Pontellier, a woman who rejects societal expectations to explore her desires and identity. Écriture Féminine is evident in Chopin’s portrayal of Edna’s internal struggles and desires, notably her awakening to her own sexuality and yearning for independence. Through Edna’s journey, the novel critiques the constrained roles available to women in the Victorian era and advocates for women’s autonomy and self-discovery.
- Orlando by Virginia Woolf:
- Explanation: Virginia Woolf’s novel, Orlando, is an experiment that challenges conventional notions of gender and time. It traces the life of Orlando, who transitions from a young nobleman into a woman over several centuries. Woolf employs fluid and playful language, blurring gender and temporal boundaries to illustrate Orlando’s evolving identity. This showcases Écriture Féminine through Woolf’s exploration of gender fluidity and her celebration of a non-linear narrative style, enabling a more authentic portrayal of gender and identity.
Suggested Readings
- Cixous, Hélène. “The Laugh of the Medusa.” Translated by Keith Cohen and Paula Cohen. Signs, vol. 1, no. 4, 1976, pp. 875-893.
- Irigaray, Luce. Speculum of the Other Woman. Translated by Gillian C. Gill. Cornell University Press, 1985.
- De Beauvoir, Simone. The Second Sex. Translated by Constance Borde and Sheila Malovany-Chevallier. Vintage Books, 2011.
- Butler, Judith. Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity. Routledge, 2006.
- Woolf, Virginia. Orlando. Harcourt, Inc., 1928.
- Gilbert, Sandra, and Susan Gubar. The Madwoman in the Attic: The Woman Writer and the Nineteenth-Century Literary Imagination. Yale University Press, 2000.
- McHale, Brian. The Cambridge Introduction to Postmodernism. Cambridge University Press, 2007.
- Oliver, Kelly, editor. French Feminism Reader. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2000.