1. ByK.G. Swarnananda GamageEnglish Language Teaching UnitBuddhist & Pali University of Sri Lanka

2. What is Feminism? Feminism is a collection of movements and ideologiesaimed at defining, establishing, and defending equalpolitical, economic and social rights of women. Thisalso includes seeking to establish equal opportunitiesfor women in education and employmentSource: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feminism 3. Other related issues Womens struggle for freedom Womens struggle for equal opportunities Womens struggle for equal place in the social system Ex: Equal pay Gender discrimination Gender equality Womens emancipation 4. HistoryHis Story 5. Established Areas of Feminism Feminist Literature Feminist theory Gender studies 6. On the eve of the 101 st international Womans Day AMY DAWSON looks at its originsand investigates why it continues to be relevant today.We live on a planet in which women perform 66 per cent of the worlds work and produce50 per cent of its food but earn 10 per cent of overall income and own one per cent ofproperty.Women hold only 19 per cent of the worlds parliamentary seats and just 16 ofthe worlds 188 directly -elected leaders are female. Violence against women causes moredeaths and disabilities among the global female population aged 15 to 44 thanCancer,Malaria,Road traffic accidents and War.It is estimated that one in five women worldwide will become a victim of rape orattemped rape and ane in four will experience domestic violence.METRO March 7 th of 2012, UK 7. Should we take it seriously in SriLanka? Mr. Maithripala Sirisena (MP) Approximately 65percent of all court cases in the country had to do withrape, child abuse, and violence against women(The Island 10/03/2013) Land like no other 5 women are raped in a day(Sunday Times) 8. Stereo typical roles 9. Famous Victorian Female Writers 10. South Asian Situation Malala Yousufzai Factor (Pakistan) 11. India Sati puja Gayathri Spivak Delhi Gang rape Phoolan Devi Child marriage 12. Ezinma placed her mothers dish before him and sat withObiageli.sit like a women Okonkwo shouted at her.He belongs to the clan He told her so look after herIs he staying long with us? She askedDo what you are told woman Okonkwo thundered.Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe 13. From the very first, Ibsen was intent on writing adrama which would highlight the anomalous positionof women in the prevailingly male-dominated society,A woman (he wrote) cannot be herself in thecontemporary society; it is an exclusively male societyin which laws are drafted by men, and with counselsand judges who judge feminine conduct from the malepoint of viewSource: Four Major Plays by Henrik Ibsen 14. Anomalous position of womenWifeMotherIrregular Baby-sitterHouse keeperBread winnerAnomalous ServantSex-objectAbnormal 15. Are women treated as sex objects? sweet little thing Nora: No Torvald, go away. Leave me alone I dont want Helmer: Whats all this? So my little Noras playing with me!Dont want? Im your husband, arent I? 16. Feminist Poetry 17. A Work of ArtificeThe bonsai treein the attractive potcould have grown eighty feet tallon the side of a mountaintill split by lightning.But a gardenercarefully pruned it.It is nine inches high.Every day as hewhittles back the branchesthe gardener croons,It is your natureto be small and cozy,domestic and weak;how lucky, little tree,to have a pot to grow in.With living creaturesone must begin very earlyto dwarf their growth:the bound feet,the crippled brain,the hair in curlers,the hands youlove to touch.Marge Piercy 18. Sita SpeakSita, speak your side of the story,We know the other too well.Your father married you to a prince,Told you to be pliable as the bowIn your husbands hand.Didnt you note Ram broke the magic bow?They say you-the ideal daughter Bowed your head in obedienceAs you were sent awayWith your husband you chose exileSuffered privation, abductionAnd then the rejection The chastity test on the scorching flamesThe victim twice victimised.Could those flames turn to flowersWithout Searing the soul?They say you were the ideal wifeYou questioned him notAnd let him have his wayThe poets who wrote your storySaid: a woman is not worthy of hearingThe Ramayana; like a beast she is fit only For being beatenCould such poetry ever bring you glory?Yet, they spoke their verses without challengeAnd With such falsehoods got away.Sita SpeakYou who could lift the magic bow and playWith one hand Who could command the earth with a wordHow did they silence you?(Bina Agarwal 1985) 19. Anger by Linda PastanYou tell methat it's all rightto let it out of its cage,though it may claw someone,even bite.You say that letting it outmay tame it somehow.But loose it mayturn on me, maulmy face, draw blood.Ah, you think you know so much,you whose anger is a pet dog,its canines dull with disuse.But mine is a rabid thing,sharpening its teethon my very bones,and I will never let it go. 20. Woman by Nikki Giovannishe wanted to be a bladeof grass amid the fieldsbut he wouldn't agreeto be the dandelionshe wanted to be a robin singingthrough the leavesbut he refused to beher treeshe spun herself into a weband looking for a place to restturned to himbut he stood straightdeclining to be her cornershe tried to be a bookbut he wouldn't readshe turned herself into a bulbbut he wouldn't let her glowshe decided to becomea womanand though he still refusedto be a manshe decided it was allright 21. Feminist PlaysA Dolls House By Henrik Ibsen (1879)(Norwegian) 22. Beginning Climax Anti-climaxLiar,hypocrite,criminalMy poor,frightened,helpless, littledarlingMy little skylarkMy little squirrelMy little song-birdMy little scatter brainMy little feather brain 23. Nora: Ive been your doll-wife here, just as at home I wasPapas doll-child----------------------------------------------------------------Nora: What do you consider is my most sacred duty?Helmer: Do I have to tell you that? Isnt it your duty toyour husband and children?Nora: I have another duty, just as sacred.Helmer: You cant have. What duty do you mean?Nora: My duty towards myself 24. Short storyThe Divorcee by Ken Saro Wiwa (Nigerian) A husband did a girl a favour by marrying her And whenhe did Lebia the favour of seeking her hand in marriage,there was nothing to stop him from achieving his desire Because she has not only married a man: she was a familyproperty He expected that she would bear children. It was for thatprimarily that he had married her. For everyman hadreason to expect that he would be a father someday.Everyman was capable of being a father. If he did notbecome a father, there was something wrong with his wife 25. Songs Ma sandata kamathi Thatu kapanne aibava dana oba 26. Appreciation of traditional female role Sanda kaluwara gala Thaththa Unath 27. Films Thani Thatuven Piya Banna Dadayama Suddilage Kathava Loku Duwa Water 28. Positives of Feminism Feminist campaigns have changed societies positively. Equal pay for women Rights to enter into contracts and own property Protection of women and girls from domestic violenceand sexual harassment Workplace rights, maternity leave Decision-making rights Ex: Scandinavian countries: Norway and Sweden 29. Ill-effects of Feminism Single parents Smoking, drinking Drop of birth rate Decline in marriage institution 30. Decision up to you!Is Feminism a Cure or Curse?ThankYou