A Study on Feminism and Female Consciousness in Alice Walker’s The Color Purple

Priyanka Sharma; Jitendra Kumar Sharma

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ellc.20240902.11

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A Study on Feminism and Female Consciousness in Alice Walker’s The Color Purple

Priyanka Sharma

, Jitendra Kumar Sharma^*

Published in English Language, Literature & Culture (Volume 9, Issue 2)

Received: 14 April 2024 Accepted: 29 April 2024 Published: 17 May 2024

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Abstract

Over time, feminism has evolved with varying interpretations, including a focus on gender equality across societal domains and as a political movement supporting women's rights. Feminism has historically challenged patriarchal norms, promoting sexual equality and personal freedom for women. Alice Walker, a prominent African American feminist, has made significant contributions to literature and activism. Born in 1944, Walker's works highlight the struggles faced by Black women in a racist and sexist society. Her acclaimed novel, The Color Purple (1982), explores themes of Black womanhood during the Civil Rights era, illustrating the resilience and empowerment of female protagonists. Walker's writings emphasize the intersectionality of race, gender, and class, portraying characters who transcend oppression to achieve self-acceptance and empowerment. Through her literature, Walker advocates for women's liberation and denounces societal injustices like sexual assault and domestic violence. The Color Purple, a pivotal work in Walker's oeuvre, showcases the transformation of protagonist Celie from subjugation to independence, reflecting themes of female consciousness, resilience, and liberation. The novel underscores the importance of sisterhood and solidarity among women in the fight for equality. In conclusion, Walker's exploration of feminist themes in The Color Purple resonates with the experiences of Black women, highlighting their historical and contemporary struggles. Her literature serves as a powerful testament to the enduring spirit of Black feminist thought and practice, inspiring readers to confront societal inequalities and envision a more equitable future.

Published in	English Language, Literature & Culture (Volume 9, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ellc.20240902.11
Page(s)	36-41
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Feminism, Alice Walker, Feminist Theory, African American, Civil Rights

References

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[3]	Hewitt, N. A. (2012). Feminist frequencies: Regenerating the wave metaphor. Feminist Studies, 38(3), 658-680. https://www.jstor.org/stable/23720198
[4]	Showalter, E. (1975). Literary criticism. Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society, 1(2), 435-460. https://doi.org/10.1086/493231
[5]	Walker, Alice. “The color purples.” Ney York: Washington Square Press, 1982.
[6]	Christophe, M. A. (1999). The Color Purple: An Existential Novel. CONTRIBUTIONS IN AFROAMERICAN AND AFRICAN STUDIES, 189, 101-108.
[7]	O'Brien, J. T. (1976). Interviews with Black Writers. (New York: Liveright, 1973), p. 201.
[8]	Williams, O. (1972). A bibliography of works written by American black women. CLA Journal, 15(3), 354-377. Retrieved from https://www.jstor.org/stable/44321577
[9]	Waham, Jihad. “Patriarchal Oppression and Gender Discrimination in Selected Novels of Alice Walker.” 4, 2020, 85 - 92.
[10]	Whelehan, Imelda. “Modern Feminist Thought: From the Second Wave to\ Post Feminism\ (Philosophy).” New York: New York University Press, 1995.
[11]	Sharma, Dolly, & Dwivedi, Jaya. “Insights of Feminist Epistemology in Some Selected Novels of Alice Walker.” Rupkatha Journal on Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities, 9, 2017. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v9n1.09
[12]	Lakshmi, K. S. (2020). Alice Walker’s Perspective of Empowerment of Black Women as Revealed in her Novel “The Third Life of Grange Copeland”. SMART MOVES JOURNAL IJELLH, 8(5), 51-63. http://dx.doi.org/10.24113/ijellh.v8i5.10581
[13]	Najm, Ali. “Feminism in Radwa Ashour's and Alice Walker's literary works: A comparative study.” 12. 2, 2023.
[14]	Jubair, Ahmed. “FEMINISTIC ISSUES IN ALICE WALKER’S THE COLOR PURPLE.” International Journal of Advanced Research, 6, 2018, 938-944. https://doi.org/10.21474/IJAR01/6931
[15]	Hussain, M. N., & Khalefa, M. A. (2022). A study of black oppression in Alice Walker’s the color purple. International Journal of Health Sciences, 6(S3), 11829–11836. https://doi.org/10.53730/ijhs.v6nS3.8938
[16]	Boyd, V. (1999). In Search of Alice Walker, or, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. Creative Nonfiction, (12), 128-146. https://www.jstor.org/stable/44363504
[17]	Gilbert, S. M. (1985). Life's Empty Pack: Notes toward a Literary Daughteronomy. Critical Inquiry, 11(3), 355-384. https://doi.org/10.1086/448293
[18]	Simparinka, E. (2022). Feminism in Alice Walker’s The Color Purple. International Journal of English Literature and Social Sciences, 7(1), 277-285. http://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijels.71.38
[19]	Reinhardt, T. (2020). Geertz, Clifford: The Interpretation of Cultures: Selected Essays. In Kindlers Literatur Lexikon (KLL) (pp. 1-2). Stuttgart: JB Metzler. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-476-05728-0_11651-1
[20]	Dieke, Ikenna. “Critical Essays on Alice Walker.” Westport: Greenwood Press, 1999.
[21]	Gates, H. L. Jr. “Reading black, reading feminist: a critical anthology.” New York: Meridian Books, 1990.
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[24]	TANRITANIR, B. C., & Aydemir, Y. (2012). THE SUFFERS OF BLACK WOMEN IN ALICE WALKER'S NOVELS THE COLOR PURPLE AND MERIDIAN AND TONI MORRISON'S NOVELS BELOVED AND THE BLUEST EYE. Journal of International Social Research, 5(23).
[25]	Udoette, M., & Udoette, S. (2014). Female Consciousness in Alice Walker’s The Color Purple. IJSELL: International Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature, 2(0), 5.

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Sharma, P., Sharma, J. K. (2024). A Study on Feminism and Female Consciousness in Alice Walker’s The Color Purple. English Language, Literature & Culture, 9(2), 36-41. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20240902.11

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Sharma, P.; Sharma, J. K. A Study on Feminism and Female Consciousness in Alice Walker’s The Color Purple. Engl. Lang. Lit. Cult. 2024, 9(2), 36-41. doi: 10.11648/j.ellc.20240902.11

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AMA Style

Sharma P, Sharma JK. A Study on Feminism and Female Consciousness in Alice Walker’s The Color Purple. Engl Lang Lit Cult. 2024;9(2):36-41. doi: 10.11648/j.ellc.20240902.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ellc.20240902.11,
  author = {Priyanka Sharma and Jitendra Kumar Sharma},
  title = {A Study on Feminism and Female Consciousness in Alice Walker’s The Color Purple
},
  journal = {English Language, Literature & Culture},
  volume = {9},
  number = {2},
  pages = {36-41},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ellc.20240902.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20240902.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ellc.20240902.11},
  abstract = {Over time, feminism has evolved with varying interpretations, including a focus on gender equality across societal domains and as a political movement supporting women's rights. Feminism has historically challenged patriarchal norms, promoting sexual equality and personal freedom for women. Alice Walker, a prominent African American feminist, has made significant contributions to literature and activism. Born in 1944, Walker's works highlight the struggles faced by Black women in a racist and sexist society. Her acclaimed novel, The Color Purple (1982), explores themes of Black womanhood during the Civil Rights era, illustrating the resilience and empowerment of female protagonists. Walker's writings emphasize the intersectionality of race, gender, and class, portraying characters who transcend oppression to achieve self-acceptance and empowerment. Through her literature, Walker advocates for women's liberation and denounces societal injustices like sexual assault and domestic violence. The Color Purple, a pivotal work in Walker's oeuvre, showcases the transformation of protagonist Celie from subjugation to independence, reflecting themes of female consciousness, resilience, and liberation. The novel underscores the importance of sisterhood and solidarity among women in the fight for equality. In conclusion, Walker's exploration of feminist themes in The Color Purple resonates with the experiences of Black women, highlighting their historical and contemporary struggles. Her literature serves as a powerful testament to the enduring spirit of Black feminist thought and practice, inspiring readers to confront societal inequalities and envision a more equitable future.
},
 year = {2024}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - A Study on Feminism and Female Consciousness in Alice Walker’s The Color Purple

AU  - Priyanka Sharma
AU  - Jitendra Kumar Sharma
Y1  - 2024/05/17
PY  - 2024
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20240902.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ellc.20240902.11
T2  - English Language, Literature & Culture
JF  - English Language, Literature & Culture
JO  - English Language, Literature & Culture
SP  - 36
EP  - 41
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-2413
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20240902.11
AB  - Over time, feminism has evolved with varying interpretations, including a focus on gender equality across societal domains and as a political movement supporting women's rights. Feminism has historically challenged patriarchal norms, promoting sexual equality and personal freedom for women. Alice Walker, a prominent African American feminist, has made significant contributions to literature and activism. Born in 1944, Walker's works highlight the struggles faced by Black women in a racist and sexist society. Her acclaimed novel, The Color Purple (1982), explores themes of Black womanhood during the Civil Rights era, illustrating the resilience and empowerment of female protagonists. Walker's writings emphasize the intersectionality of race, gender, and class, portraying characters who transcend oppression to achieve self-acceptance and empowerment. Through her literature, Walker advocates for women's liberation and denounces societal injustices like sexual assault and domestic violence. The Color Purple, a pivotal work in Walker's oeuvre, showcases the transformation of protagonist Celie from subjugation to independence, reflecting themes of female consciousness, resilience, and liberation. The novel underscores the importance of sisterhood and solidarity among women in the fight for equality. In conclusion, Walker's exploration of feminist themes in The Color Purple resonates with the experiences of Black women, highlighting their historical and contemporary struggles. Her literature serves as a powerful testament to the enduring spirit of Black feminist thought and practice, inspiring readers to confront societal inequalities and envision a more equitable future.

VL  - 9
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Author Information

Priyanka Sharma

Department of English, Baba Mastnath University, Rohtak, India

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0004-9901-9867
Jitendra Kumar Sharma

Department of English, Baba Mastnath University, Rohtak, India

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APA Style

Sharma, P., Sharma, J. K. (2024). A Study on Feminism and Female Consciousness in Alice Walker’s The Color Purple. English Language, Literature & Culture, 9(2), 36-41. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20240902.11

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ACS Style

Sharma, P.; Sharma, J. K. A Study on Feminism and Female Consciousness in Alice Walker’s The Color Purple. Engl. Lang. Lit. Cult. 2024, 9(2), 36-41. doi: 10.11648/j.ellc.20240902.11

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AMA Style

Sharma P, Sharma JK. A Study on Feminism and Female Consciousness in Alice Walker’s The Color Purple. Engl Lang Lit Cult. 2024;9(2):36-41. doi: 10.11648/j.ellc.20240902.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ellc.20240902.11,
  author = {Priyanka Sharma and Jitendra Kumar Sharma},
  title = {A Study on Feminism and Female Consciousness in Alice Walker’s The Color Purple
},
  journal = {English Language, Literature & Culture},
  volume = {9},
  number = {2},
  pages = {36-41},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ellc.20240902.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20240902.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ellc.20240902.11},
  abstract = {Over time, feminism has evolved with varying interpretations, including a focus on gender equality across societal domains and as a political movement supporting women's rights. Feminism has historically challenged patriarchal norms, promoting sexual equality and personal freedom for women. Alice Walker, a prominent African American feminist, has made significant contributions to literature and activism. Born in 1944, Walker's works highlight the struggles faced by Black women in a racist and sexist society. Her acclaimed novel, The Color Purple (1982), explores themes of Black womanhood during the Civil Rights era, illustrating the resilience and empowerment of female protagonists. Walker's writings emphasize the intersectionality of race, gender, and class, portraying characters who transcend oppression to achieve self-acceptance and empowerment. Through her literature, Walker advocates for women's liberation and denounces societal injustices like sexual assault and domestic violence. The Color Purple, a pivotal work in Walker's oeuvre, showcases the transformation of protagonist Celie from subjugation to independence, reflecting themes of female consciousness, resilience, and liberation. The novel underscores the importance of sisterhood and solidarity among women in the fight for equality. In conclusion, Walker's exploration of feminist themes in The Color Purple resonates with the experiences of Black women, highlighting their historical and contemporary struggles. Her literature serves as a powerful testament to the enduring spirit of Black feminist thought and practice, inspiring readers to confront societal inequalities and envision a more equitable future.
},
 year = {2024}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - A Study on Feminism and Female Consciousness in Alice Walker’s The Color Purple

AU  - Priyanka Sharma
AU  - Jitendra Kumar Sharma
Y1  - 2024/05/17
PY  - 2024
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20240902.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ellc.20240902.11
T2  - English Language, Literature & Culture
JF  - English Language, Literature & Culture
JO  - English Language, Literature & Culture
SP  - 36
EP  - 41
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-2413
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20240902.11
AB  - Over time, feminism has evolved with varying interpretations, including a focus on gender equality across societal domains and as a political movement supporting women's rights. Feminism has historically challenged patriarchal norms, promoting sexual equality and personal freedom for women. Alice Walker, a prominent African American feminist, has made significant contributions to literature and activism. Born in 1944, Walker's works highlight the struggles faced by Black women in a racist and sexist society. Her acclaimed novel, The Color Purple (1982), explores themes of Black womanhood during the Civil Rights era, illustrating the resilience and empowerment of female protagonists. Walker's writings emphasize the intersectionality of race, gender, and class, portraying characters who transcend oppression to achieve self-acceptance and empowerment. Through her literature, Walker advocates for women's liberation and denounces societal injustices like sexual assault and domestic violence. The Color Purple, a pivotal work in Walker's oeuvre, showcases the transformation of protagonist Celie from subjugation to independence, reflecting themes of female consciousness, resilience, and liberation. The novel underscores the importance of sisterhood and solidarity among women in the fight for equality. In conclusion, Walker's exploration of feminist themes in The Color Purple resonates with the experiences of Black women, highlighting their historical and contemporary struggles. Her literature serves as a powerful testament to the enduring spirit of Black feminist thought and practice, inspiring readers to confront societal inequalities and envision a more equitable future.

VL  - 9
IS  - 2
ER  -

Copy | Download