The intellectual lineages of several seminal academics chart the development of feminist story theory across time. In addition to opposing and modifying prevailing narratives, these philosophers have helped shape and deepen our knowledge of the ways in which narratives may reflect and perpetuate gender inequities. Some important intellectual lineages within feminist story theory will be discussed.
Simone de Beauvoir is a leading pioneer in feminist narrative theory. Her seminal 1949 book, “The Second Sex,” is often credited with laying the groundwork for modern feminism. De Beauvoir analyzed how gender roles are constructed in society and culture, focusing on how dominant narratives impact women’s lives. Reclaiming one’s own agency and writing one’s own story were major themes in her work. Scholars like Julia Kristeva advanced feminist story theory beyond de Beauvoir’s theories by emphasizing the significance of language and discourse. Kristeva contended that women have traditionally been positioned as the Other within dominant discourses, and that language forms and affects subjectivity in both of these ways. To combat repressive power systems, she advocated for a subversive approach to language and storytelling.
