The assessment, analysis, study and debate on feminist literature can be defined as Feminist Literary Criticism . The criticisms are not only carried out by the theorists but many writers and journalists have taken part in this process. The first in the line of feminist literary critics would be two 19 th century women authors George Eliot and Margaret Fuller.
From 18 th century to 1970's and then from 1970 to the present day are the two phases of feminist literary criticism . Before 1970 the main points of criticism were authorship and condition of women and the way they are portrayed in literature. Since 1970s things have become complex and varied. Gender studies after the 1970 were dominated by the revisionists. Freudian and Lacanian psychoanalysis are now taken into account while evaluating literary works relating feminism. The studies and assessment of feminist literature in the present day is related to queer studies which is study of sexual orientations and gender individuality in the society.
The main intentions of feminist criticism according to Lisa Tittle are:
• To unfold and widen the female tradition of writing
• To reinterpret and divulge the old books on feminism
• To help women's writings retain or gain a significant place even in the world of men
• To consider female writer and their writings from the perspective of a women
• To prevent sexism in literary texts
• To augment alertness regarding sexual politics of language and its approach
Some of the eminent books on feminist literary criticism and the authors are:
• Making a Difference: Feminist Literary Criticism by Gayle Greene, Coppélia Kahn
• Feminist Literary Criticism-Pa: Explorations in theory by Josephine Donovan
• Feminist Literary Theory: A Reader by Mary Eagleton
• Literature After Feminism : Rita Felski
Criticism of feminist literary texts is an integral part of feminist studies and movement; it has helped in the growth and diversification of feminism worldwide.
