Research – Writing About Literature

Feminist Analysis – Researching

Though this guide to research for feminist theory is placed in the ‘Inventing’ section, research can be conducted at many different stages of the writing process. Some people find it helpful to conduct research after they have loosely organized their thoughts about the piece in a discovery draft, while others prefer to have a solid argument formed before they begin researching. No matter when you begin conducting research, make sure that you refer to the assignment first. Some papers will require multiple sources, while others may prohibit any type of outside research.

Be wary of conducting research too early. This could lead to a synthesis of other people’s arguments and your professors want to hear your ideas!

When researching, you should be careful about the type of sources you select. If your research relies on published literary criticism of a piece, this will likely influence your ideas rather than help you form your own opinion. Instead, try initially researching historical context or specific schools of feminist theory. Then, you can apply broad concepts to the specific work in order to generate a well-informed argument of your own.

When searching the MLA (Modern Language Association) database, some helpful search terms might include: ‘feminist theory,’ ‘feminist ideology,’ ‘feminist reading,’ ‘gender-bias,’ ‘patriarchal,’ and ‘separate spheres.’

Resources
Below is a list of reference sources that cover key concepts in feminist theory.

–The Encyclopedia of Feminist Theory (Routledge World Reference) edited by Lorraine Code- contains over 500 entries from an international team of contributors and includes clear, concise and provocative explanations of key themes and idea with cross references.

–A Concise Companion to Feminist Theory edited by Mary Eagleton- offers a more in-depth look at specific subject in feminist theory with 12 chapters covering diverse subjects such as class, race, sexuality, and language.

In the Library of Congress Classification system, the way most university libraries organize their books, women and feminism books are in the section of call numbers HQ1101- HQ2030.7.

“Rather than just searching for sources online, I always find it helpful to visit the library. I usually find the best sources on the same shelf as the source I was initially looking for.”
-Anna LaMure

Online
–Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy- Topics in Feminism. A comprehensive guide to topics in feminism, including perspectives on autonomy, class and work, objectification, power, reproduction and the family, and the self. Also includes links to other internet resources.

–Women Studies/Women’s Issues Resource site. A selective, annotated, highly acclaimed listing of web sites containing resources and information about women’s studies/ women’s issues.

– Feminist Theory Website. With 5425 bibliographical entries and 593 links to internet sites, this site provides research materials and information for students, activists, and scholars interested in women’s conditions and struggles around the world.

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