Meg Wolitzer’s 2019 novel "The Female Persuasion" explores the past, present and foreseeable future of the women’s rights movement in the USA, which is commonly categorized into three Waves. The author focuses on the Second Wave and the Third Wave, for which she exemplarily uses two protagonists of not only different generations but also with very contrasting personalities - Faith Frank and Greer Kadetsky.
Wolitzer, given her birth year of 1959, is to be allocated with Second Wave feminism and says that she "feels like a feminist and therefore writes like a feminist". She portrays the difficulties the two generations need to overcome to unite for the same cause. This paper explores to what extent the protagonists align with the characteristics of the Waves they are ought to represent, and in what ways they might act contrary to them. Furthermore, it will analyze the relationship between Faith and Greer which represents the attitudes of Second Wavers and Third Wavers towards each other. This paper will include the definition of the Second Wave and the Third Wave, as well as the main analysis of the novel. The analysis will not only include the points mentioned, but will also contain a general analysis of each of the protagonists' personalities and behaviors which will continuously be drawn back to the individual Waves.
The aim of this paper is to show the parallels between Wolitzer's novel, which is oftentimes based on facts just as much as it is fiction, and the patterns of real-life feminism in the USA. It is supposed to underline the dynamics of the movement and how changing times may change people’s beliefs as a result.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Defining Second- and Third Wave feminism
2.1 The Second Wave
2.2 The Third Wave
3. Primary Analysis
3.1 Faith Frank as part of the Second Wave
3.2 Greer Kadetsky as part of the Third Wave
4. Conclusion
5. Bibliography
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This paper examines how the two protagonists of Meg Wolitzer’s novel "The Female Persuasion," Faith Frank and Greer Kadetsky, embody and occasionally challenge the ideological characteristics of Second and Third Wave feminism, while exploring the generational dynamics and evolving nature of the women's rights movement in the USA.
- The theoretical distinction between Second Wave and Third Wave feminist movements.
- Character analysis of Faith Frank as a representative of the Second Wave.
- Character analysis of Greer Kadetsky as a representative of the Third Wave.
- The interpersonal relationship between the two protagonists as a reflection of generational tension.
- The impact of changing societal conditions on individual feminist agendas.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Faith Frank as part of the Second Wave
Faith Frank is one of the two main female protagonists of the novel and is ought to be a representation of Second Wave feminism. Faith embodies an essential role within the novel as a mentor, role-model and person of absolute admiration to Greer.
The author states clearly that Faith is part of the Second Wave, having started her activism in the late 1960s, but is even more so a relict of an era that has ended. This becomes clear in the opinions of the college students who visit her lecture who mostly „had come because their professors had made the lecture mandatory“ (Wolitzer 2019: 27). They see Faith as someone who belongs to the past and underline this in stating that she „represents this kind of outdated idea of feminism“ which „focuses on issues that mostly affect privileged women“ (ibid: 24). These attitudes embody the opposition of the Third Wave to the Second Wave. The accusation of merely fighting for issues that refer to educated, white, middle- and upper-class women becomes evident to be true in the course of the novel, with Faith’s foundation Loci engaging in exactly this kind of privileged, money-driven type of activism. Faith is well aware of this, however also conflicted with her urge to stay relevant: „rich women attending conferences with massages and wonderful food doesn’t get us anything. […] And yet, we have to grow“ (ibid: 267). Also, the antipathy of the Third Wave to Second Wavers, is portrayed realistically. Faith seems aware of the opinions of the students, therefore in the speech at Greer’s college, which introduces the reader to Faith’s personal feministic agenda, she carefully avoids to mention any specific issues.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Introduces the novel "The Female Persuasion" and outlines the paper's goal to compare the protagonist's personalities with the characteristics of the Second and Third Wave feminist movements.
2. Defining Second- and Third Wave feminism: Provides the theoretical background by defining the core tenets, historical context, and limitations of both the Second and Third Wave of feminism.
3. Primary Analysis: Detailed examination of the two protagonists, analyzing their actions, personal development, and how their individual relationship mirrors the broader generational conflicts within feminism.
4. Conclusion: Summarizes the findings, highlighting that while both protagonists are active for women's rights, their different agendas illustrate the evolution of the movement.
5. Bibliography: Lists all primary and secondary sources used for the analysis.
Key Words
The Female Persuasion, Meg Wolitzer, Second Wave Feminism, Third Wave Feminism, Faith Frank, Greer Kadetsky, Women's Rights Movement, Sisterhood, Female Mentorship, Generational Conflict, Activism, Gender Equality, Empowerment, Feministic Agenda, Social Change.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on analyzing the representation of Second and Third Wave feminism in Meg Wolitzer’s novel "The Female Persuasion" through the lens of its two central female characters.
What are the primary thematic fields discussed?
The main themes include the historical and ideological differences between feminist waves, the dynamics of female mentorship, generational clashes within social movements, and the influence of privilege on activism.
What is the primary research objective?
The goal is to determine to what extent the protagonists align with the characteristics of the feminist waves they are intended to represent and how their relationship reflects the interaction between different feminist generations.
Which methodology is employed in this study?
The paper utilizes a literary analysis approach, comparing fictional characters and plot developments against established academic theories regarding the history of the women's rights movement in the USA.
What is covered in the main body of the work?
The main body defines the theoretical frameworks of the Second and Third Waves and provides a character study of Faith Frank and Greer Kadetsky, analyzing their behaviors, motivations, and evolving ideologies.
Which keywords best characterize the study?
Key terms include "The Female Persuasion," "Second Wave Feminism," "Third Wave Feminism," "generational conflict," "feminist mentorship," and "activism."
How does the author of the novel view the Second Wave?
The author portrays the Second Wave through Faith Frank as a movement that achieved significant milestones but struggles to remain relevant to younger generations due to perceived elitism and an inability to adapt to modern, diverse issues.
How is the transition from "pre-Faith" to "post-Faith" Greer depicted?
Greer’s evolution is shown as a journey from an insecure student to an established feminist author, highlighting her independence and her ability to build upon her mentor's foundations while eventually forging her own path.
- Quote paper
- Katharina Spreier (Author), 2019, The Wave metaphor and beyond. Feminist agendas of female protagonists in Meg Wolitzer’s "The Female Persuasion", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/511458
