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 There are myriad things to notice and comment upon in any text.
 Literary (critical) lenses focus our vision, drawing our attention to one specific aspect of a text
 The feminist lens looks with a critical eye at a work’s portrayal of gender as it relates to power and identity.

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 Social criticism is intrinsically tied to feminist readings—your role as a feminist critic is to interrogate the norms surrounding gender, to notice injustice, and to point out the ways that characters move to fit the “Tetris pieces” of society’s gender expectations into their lives.

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 It is also your job (in a non-obvious way) to portray your approval or condemnation of a text based on feminist ideals. For example, a feminist analysis of Lucie Manette would likely be very critical of
Dickens. On the other hand, Sophocles could be praised for
Antigone… but he could also be condemned for it… depends on your argument.
 P.S. Twilight is a feminist’s WORST NIGHTMARE. The Underworld series, on the other hand, would be highly acceptable as a vampire/werewolf alternative. (As long as you’re allowed to watch
R-rated movies, of course!)
 Your opinion about whether the work is successful or not in a feminist context should not be obvious—it will just sort of “seep out” of your writing.

 Everybody wanna try to box me in
Suffocating everytime it locks me in
Paint they own pictures, then they crop me in
But I will remain where the top begins

Drew walks by me
Can he tell that I can't breathe?
And there he goes, so perfectly
The kind of flawless I wish I could be
Cause I am not a word, I am not a line
I am not a girl that can ever be defined
I am not fly, I am levitation
I represent an entire generation
I hear the criticism loud and clear
That is how I know that the time is near
So we become alive in a time of fear
And I ain’t got no mothaf----g time to spare
Cry my eyes out for days upon days
Such a heavy burden placed upon me
But when you go hard your nays become yays
Yankee Stadium with Jay’s and Kanye’s
She better hold him tight
Give him all her love
Look in those beautiful eyes
And know she's lucky 'cause
He's the reason for the teardrops on my guitar
The only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star
He's the song in the car I keep singing
Don't know why I do
So I drive home alone
As I turn out the light
I'll put his picture down
And maybe get some sleep tonight
I came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive
I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise
To fly
He's the time taken up but there's never enough
And he's all that I need to fall into
Drew looks at me
I fake a smile so he won't see

Males
 How do they define, choose, and participate in family/platonic/romantic/ sexual relationships?
 Females
 How do they define, choose, and participate in family/platonic/romantic/ sexual relationships?
 Do they exert power over women, either against their will or with consent?
 Are they trapped within the social idea of masculinity?
Are they “manly”?
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What are their ambitions?
How intelligent/talented are they? How do they use gifts?
Do they recognize oppression? Do they resist it?
 Do they recognize oppression? Do they resist it?
 Do they have power? In what way(s)? Is it equal/fair?
 Are they important?

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 Men have their own inconveniences and pain resulting from stringent gender expectations.
 Many men wish to overturn the idea of patriarchy just as much as women do.

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 The author is the mastermind behind the story, and the real game-changer. The characters are mere pawns with which to communicate the author’s vision.
 What does the story as a whole say about the author’s views on gender roles? Look for motifs, symbols, metaphors, social commentary, and attitude.
 Does the author paint a gender-role-transforming character’s outcome as tragic or successful? This will color the reader’s perception of gender within the story, and reveal the author’s true leanings.