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ndegeorge's picture

reading as a feminist

I see reading as a feminist as a personal act of self-discovery, like it was for Adrienne Rich in her exploration of Emily Dickinson's writing. Therefore I would say that the reading and interpretation of the poem we did in class was indeed a feminist reading. We all found ways to connect with the poem. On that point I would agree with Schweickart; that the reader does indeed form a relationship with the text she is reading. But she makes the choice about what to take in or not, meaning the relationship could be either positive or negative. I think even when one is "resisting" a sexist text it is necessary to see where one could connect with it, though ultimately choosing not to. It is truly an individualized experience, which needs to take into account a personal definition of feminism. I guess I would agree with the reader-response theory that reading is subjective. Adding feminist theory to that I think makes reading a richer experience for women, one that is built on connection and communication; a relationship not necessarily with the author but with the text itself. I think according to traditional feminst theory my ideas might be a little too broad but I think feminism should be personal first in order to know what to build upon.

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