Women Writers: Women Writers: A Brief HistoryA Brief History

Arleta High SchoolArleta High School

Social Justice SLCSocial Justice SLCIn Celebration of Women’s History MonthIn Celebration of Women’s History Month

Women Writers Throughout Women Writers Throughout HistoryHistory

It was not until the 20It was not until the 20thth century that century that women won the right to vote and have women won the right to vote and have equal access to educational opportunities.equal access to educational opportunities.

Women writers were often marginalized, or Women writers were often marginalized, or pushed to the sidelines, and not given as pushed to the sidelines, and not given as much attention or respect as male writers.much attention or respect as male writers.

Through this presentation, you should Through this presentation, you should learn some facts about women writers learn some facts about women writers throughout history, and their contributions throughout history, and their contributions to writing and the world.to writing and the world.

The World’s First NovelThe World’s First Novel

In the year 1007 a In the year 1007 a Japanese noblewoman, Japanese noblewoman, Murasaki Shikibu, wrote Murasaki Shikibu, wrote the world’s first full novel. the world’s first full novel. Called “The Tale of Genji.” Called “The Tale of Genji.”

It tells the story of a prince It tells the story of a prince looking for love and looking for love and wisdom. wisdom.

In its English translation it In its English translation it covers 54 chapters over covers 54 chapters over 1000 pages of text!1000 pages of text!

Source: http://didyouknow.org/firstnovel/Source: http://didyouknow.org/firstnovel/

Margery KempeMargery Kempe

Kempe was born in 1373 in England.Kempe was born in 1373 in England. Although she was born into a wealthy Although she was born into a wealthy

family, she did not receive an education.family, she did not receive an education. She married John Kempe and had She married John Kempe and had

fourteen children.fourteen children. After she was married, she started to After she was married, she started to

have religious visions, and went on a have religious visions, and went on a long religious pilgrimage to Jerusalem.long religious pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

When she returned to England, she When she returned to England, she dictated her life story to scribes.dictated her life story to scribes.

Margery Kempe thus became the first Margery Kempe thus became the first woman to write an woman to write an autobiographyautobiography!!

Source: Source: http://departments.kings.edu/womens_history/margerykempe.http://departments.kings.edu/womens_history/margerykempe.

htmlhtml

Marguerite of NavarreMarguerite of Navarre

Marguerite of Navarre was born Marguerite of Navarre was born in France in 1472. She received in France in 1472. She received an excellent education, as her an excellent education, as her family was very wealthy.family was very wealthy.

Marguerite of Navarre wrote Marguerite of Navarre wrote religious verse (poetry) and short religious verse (poetry) and short stories. stories.

Marguerite's collection of 72 Marguerite's collection of 72 stories -- many about women -- stories -- many about women -- was published after her death was published after her death under the title under the title L'Hemptameron L'Hemptameron des Nouvelles, des Nouvelles, also called also called The The HeptameronHeptameron..

Source: http://womenshistory.about.com/od/writersmedieval/p/margaretnavarre.htmSource: http://womenshistory.about.com/od/writersmedieval/p/margaretnavarre.htm

Anne BradstreetAnne Bradstreet

Anne Bradstreet's book of poems, Anne Bradstreet's book of poems, The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in Americain America, was published in , was published in England in 1650, making her the England in 1650, making her the first published American woman first published American woman writer.writer.

Bradstreet was a settler in the Bradstreet was a settler in the Massachusetts colony.Massachusetts colony.

Her most famous poem is “Lines Her most famous poem is “Lines Upon the Burning of Our House.”Upon the Burning of Our House.”

Source: http://www.infoplease.com/spot/womensfirsts1.html#ixzz1oeCIQhfDSource: http://www.infoplease.com/spot/womensfirsts1.html#ixzz1oeCIQhfD

Phillis Wheatley: Phillis Wheatley: The First The First African-African-

American American Woman WriterWoman Writer

In 1761 Phillis was purchased as a personal slave in Boston by In 1761 Phillis was purchased as a personal slave in Boston by Susannah Wheatley. She was evidently around 7 years old at the time. Susannah Wheatley. She was evidently around 7 years old at the time.

She learned to speak and write English very quickly, taught by Mary She learned to speak and write English very quickly, taught by Mary Wheatley, the 18 year old daughter of her owner; within 16 months Wheatley, the 18 year old daughter of her owner; within 16 months she could read difficult passages in the Bible. At 12 she began she could read difficult passages in the Bible. At 12 she began studying Latin and English literature, studying Latin and English literature,

Wheatley’s was restricted by her status as a slave, although a Wheatley’s was restricted by her status as a slave, although a privileged one. Though superior to most white colonists in her privileged one. Though superior to most white colonists in her intellectual and literary accomplishments, she was never allowed to be intellectual and literary accomplishments, she was never allowed to be their equal.their equal.

When she was 20, Phillis visited England with the son of her owner, When she was 20, Phillis visited England with the son of her owner, and published a book of poetry there.and published a book of poetry there.

Wheatley was freed upon the death of her owner.Wheatley was freed upon the death of her owner.

Source: http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/webtexts/Wheatley/philbio.htmSource: http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/webtexts/Wheatley/philbio.htm

Harriet Beecher Stowe: The Harriet Beecher Stowe: The Little Lady Who Started a Big Little Lady Who Started a Big

WarWar Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896) Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896)

published more than 30 books, but it published more than 30 books, but it was her best-selling anti-slavery novel was her best-selling anti-slavery novel Uncle Tom's CabinUncle Tom's Cabin which catapulted which catapulted her to international celebrity and her to international celebrity and secured her place in history.secured her place in history.

Stowe believed her purpose in life was Stowe believed her purpose in life was to write. Her most famous work to write. Her most famous work exposed the truth about the greatest exposed the truth about the greatest social injustice of her day, - human social injustice of her day, - human slavery. slavery.

When Stowe met President Abraham When Stowe met President Abraham Lincoln, he supposedly said to her: “[So Lincoln, he supposedly said to her: “[So this is] the “little woman who wrote the this is] the “little woman who wrote the book that made this great war.” book that made this great war.”

Stowe believed that it was her duty to Stowe believed that it was her duty to use her writing talents to create social use her writing talents to create social change.change.

Sources: http://wraabe.wordpress.comSources: http://wraabe.wordpress.comwww.Harrietbeecherstowecenter.org/www.Harrietbeecherstowecenter.org/

Zora Neale Hurston: Novelist Zora Neale Hurston: Novelist of the Harlem Renaissanceof the Harlem Renaissance

Zora Neale Hurston is considered one Zora Neale Hurston is considered one of the most important writers of of the most important writers of twentieth-century American literature. twentieth-century American literature. Hurston was closely associated with Hurston was closely associated with the Harlem Renaissance and has the Harlem Renaissance and has influenced such writers as Ralph influenced such writers as Ralph Ellison,Toni Morrison, and Alice Ellison,Toni Morrison, and Alice Walker.Walker.

Her novel, Her novel, Their Eyes Were Watching Their Eyes Were Watching GodGod, tells the story of Janie Crawford’s, , tells the story of Janie Crawford’s, quest for identity, during which she quest for identity, during which she learns what love is, experiences life's learns what love is, experiences life's joys and sorrows, and come home to joys and sorrows, and come home to herself in peace. herself in peace.

When first published in 1937, this When first published in 1937, this novel about a proud, independent novel about a proud, independent black woman was generally dismissed black woman was generally dismissed by male reviewers. by male reviewers. Their Eyes Were Their Eyes Were Watching GodWatching God has become the most has become the most widely read and highly acclaimed widely read and highly acclaimed novel in the canon of African-American novel in the canon of African-American literature.literature.

Source: http://zoranealehurston.com/books/Source: http://zoranealehurston.com/books/

Laura Esquivel: Combining a Laura Esquivel: Combining a Love of Writing and FoodLove of Writing and Food

Born on September 30, 1950, in Born on September 30, 1950, in Mexico City, Mexico. Esquivel Mexico City, Mexico. Esquivel began writing while working as a began writing while working as a kindergarten teacher. kindergarten teacher.

Esquivel often explores the Esquivel often explores the relationship between men and relationship between men and women in Mexico in her work. women in Mexico in her work.

She is best known for She is best known for Like Water Like Water for Chocolatefor Chocolate (1990), an (1990), an imaginative and compelling imaginative and compelling combination of novel and combination of novel and cookbook. The novel’s title is a cookbook. The novel’s title is a metaphor for the boiling emotions metaphor for the boiling emotions of love.of love.

The novel is formatted by the The novel is formatted by the month, with each month month, with each month containing a recipe that is containing a recipe that is featured in the action of that featured in the action of that chapterchapter

http://www.biography.com/people/laura-esquivel-http://www.biography.com/people/laura-esquivel-185854185854

Amy Tan: Giving a Voice to Amy Tan: Giving a Voice to Voiceless WomenVoiceless Women

Amy Tan was born in Oakland, Amy Tan was born in Oakland, California in 1952, several years after California in 1952, several years after her mother and father immigrated to her mother and father immigrated to the San Francisco Bay area from China.the San Francisco Bay area from China.

Her first novel (originally written as Her first novel (originally written as linked short stories) linked short stories) The Joy Luck ClubThe Joy Luck Club was published in 1989. was published in 1989.

Later books include Later books include The Kitchen God’s The Kitchen God’s Wife Wife and and The Bonesetter’s Daughter.The Bonesetter’s Daughter.

Her novels give a voice to characters Her novels give a voice to characters who, as Chinese women, were often who, as Chinese women, were often marginalized and unheard. marginalized and unheard.

Source: http://www.bookreporter.com/authors/amy-Source: http://www.bookreporter.com/authors/amy-tantan