A critical analysis of Rosario Cruz-Lucero's Herstory, using ecriture feminine

• Main Author: Dimanahan, Ma. Theresa S.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1996
• Subjects: Lucero; Rosario Cruz > Criticism and interpretation; Women authors; Feminist criticism; Rosario Cruz Herstory; Herstory (Short story)
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/1399
• Institution: De La Salle University

Most of the works included in the Canon are writings which follow the male norms despite the fact that they are mostly written by male writers. What Helene Cixous says in her theory Ecriture Feminine to the female writers is to defy these male norms of writing. To defy these norms, Cixous says that writers should write about woman and her experiences specially with regard to her jouissance. Moreso, encourages writers to use female language. She defines this language as a language which does not conform with the man-made language. This may be done by using metaphors, symbols, and other figures of speech, and deconstructing the binary oppositions which is said to fall under the man/woman paradigm where the female side is not privileged or favored by the patriarchy. This study focuses on the collection Herstory written by Rosario Cruz-Lucero who is considered now as one of the writers who identify themselves as feminist. After receiving awards for most of her short stories which are included in this collection, it is just rightful to study Lucero's texts. Since she is considered as one of the feminist writers in Philippine Literature, this study tries to help in determining whether Lucero's texts are feminist or not using the theory Ecriture Feminine.