Fay Weldon, liberal feminism and the praxis of <i>Praxis</i>

Abstract

This article focuses on Fay Weldon’s novel, “Praxis”, as a means of exploring the concept of “liberal feminism”. “Praxis” charts the development of the eponymous main protagonist from a woman complicit in her own patriarchal oppression to a radical feminist activist and finally to the point where she comes to a liberal realisation of the nuances of individual women’s experiences and the complexity of emancipation. The novel may be regarded as a liberal feminist text in its emphasis on both gender equality and individual liberty, and in its insistence that society may be positively reformed within the paradigm of the liberal state and without resorting to radical extremism. Published in 1978, the novel anticipates the later shift in feminist thinking from an exclusive concern with women’s rights to a more inclusive liberal vision of human rights

Authenticity of liberal feminism in Namita Gokhale's texts

“…She is subjugated by her children and husband. She fights with her family to attain her goal because she thinks that family is different from her dreams (Foley, 2007). Similarly, in the novel, the family members of Tilottamma oppose her dream but in the end, she liberates herself in attaining her desires.…”

“…Its reactions are strong towards gender equality, individual liberty, and empowerment. Liberal feminism asserts that women are not an instrument for the welfare of children and men (Foley, 2007). It deals with freedom for individuals such as freedom to be alive, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and so on (Wijayati, 2020;Hariharasudan, 2020).…”

Liberal Feminism: Emphasizing Individualism and Equal Rights in Meena Kandasamy’s When I Hit You

“…She joins the women's movement, which eventually frees her life and inspires her fellow women to live their own lives. The central characteristics of liberal feminism can be seen in the behaviour of Praxis, such as gender equality, individual empowerment and self-actualization (Foley 2007). Mayabadi's study compares the similarities between Mill and the view of liberal feminism by Thomas Hardy in the novels Tess of the d'Urbervilles and Jude the Obscure.…”