Dangerous women: The quest for alternative narratives as feminist revolution in contemporary American women's fiction

Rebecca D Bliss, Purdue University

Abstract

In this study I apply the theoretical frameworks of bell hooks and Rene Denfeld to Toni Morrison's Sula, Toni Cade Bambara's The Salt Eaters, and Pagan Kennedy's Spinsters in order to explore the feminist movement and the need for feminist revolution. Such a revolution will require changing cultural ideology and eradicating systems of domination. Part of this work can be accomplished via literature. Literature can examine destructive and fragmenting forces and map out healing processes for both individuals and the larger collective feminist revolution. This literature, termed alternative narratives, has a feminist agenda that subverts or deviates from the traditional narrative template and works against a patriarchally informed cultural ideology.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Saunders, Purdue University.

Subject Area

American literature|Womens studies

Off-Campus Purdue Users:
To access this dissertation, please log in to our
proxy server
.

Share

COinS