Methods and Spaces: Re-reading Elaine Showalter’s “Feminist Criticism in the Wilderness”

Abstract

Elaine Showalter’s essay “Feminist Criticism in the Wilderness” has significantly influenced feminist literary criticism, serving as a cornerstone text studied meticulously by students and scholars alike. It critically traces the genealogy of feminist criticism up to the 1980s, offering a comprehensive overview of the diverse positions and debates within feminist theory during that era. Despite its acclaim, there has been a noticeable lack of critical analysis focused specifically on the essay itself, with much attention instead directed towards its historiographical insights. This paper seeks to address this gap by approaching Showalter’s essay from new critical perspectives centered on methodology and spatiality. It aims to demonstrate how Showalter’s work exhibits visionary qualities in both her methodological approach and her exploration of the intersections between space and gender. By examining how Showalter employs research methodology to illuminate feminist literary history and by analyzing her strategic engagement with spatial dynamics in feminist discourse, this study aims to highlight the essay’s enduring relevance and innovative contributions to feminist criticism. In doing so, this paper endeavors to shed light on overlooked aspects of Showalter’s essay, offering fresh insights that enrich our understanding of its scholarly significance and its broader implications for feminist literary theory.