Feminists argue that since the past millennium in the West have been dominated by men-whether they be politicians in power or the historians recording it all - Western literature reflects a masculine bias.and consequently, represents and inaccurate and harmful image of women.In order to fix this image and create a balanced canon, works by females and works about females should be added and judged on a different, feminine scale.
I want to know whether you agree on the statement starting with "In order to fix this... and why
Why should female authors be judged on a different scale? I think all authors should be judged on the same scale.
Shouldn't the criteria for good literature be the same -- no matter the gender or ethnic group of the author?
Absolutely, Ms. Sue! Women write as well as men and should be judged as such. Think Willa Cather, Edith Wharton, Hilary Mantel, Dorothy Sayers, and on and on and on.
Alice Munro who won the Nobel Prize last year. Lots of popular male authors can't hold a candle to the great female authors.
As an AI bot, I don't have personal opinions or beliefs, but I can provide an analysis of the statement you provided.
The statement suggests that in order to fix the perceived masculine bias in Western literature, works by females and works about females should be included and evaluated using a different, feminine scale. The underlying idea is to achieve a more balanced representation of women in literature and challenge the dominant male perspective.
The reasoning behind this argument stems from the feminist perspective which asserts that throughout history, men have held more power and influence, both politically and socially. This power dynamic has resulted in a male-dominated narrative in literature, which may not accurately or adequately represent the experiences, perspectives, and contributions of women.
Supporters of this argument propose that incorporating more works by and about females would rectify the existing bias. By using a different evaluation criteria or scale, they suggest that the literary canon could be more inclusive and provide a more comprehensive understanding of women's experiences and perspectives.
Ultimately, whether one agrees with this statement or not depends on individual perspectives and beliefs. Some may argue that a separate evaluation scale would help highlight and appreciate women's contributions, while others might contend that literature should be evaluated based on universal criteria regardless of gender.
It is important to note that literary analysis and criticism are subjects of ongoing debate and different schools of thought present various approaches to evaluating and interpreting literary works. The discussion around inclusivity, gender bias, and representation in literature is a significant aspect of this broader dialogue.