Women EmpowermentTaylor Timmons

Sue Monk Kidd (1948- present)

Influenced by Thoreau's Walden and Kate Chopin's The Awakening

Began her career writing nonfiction inspirational piecesMany she published in Guideposts Magazine

feminist spirituality and spiritual journeyGod's Joyful Surprise (1988)

The Mermaid Chair in 2005

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Alice Walker (1944- present)

Blinded her in one eyeActive in environmental, feminist/ women causesRape, violence, isolation, troubled relationships, multi-generational perspectives, sexism and racism

The Color Purple (1982)- Pulitzer PrizeThe Temple of My Familiar (1989)Possessing the Secret of Joy (1992)

portrayals of the African American woman's life and often in other periods of history

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Kate Chopin (1850–1904)

Born in St. Louis MissouriWrote two published novels and about a hundred short stories in the 1890s

At Fault (1890)The Awakening (1899)

Her short stories were published by some of America's most prestigious magazines between 1892 to 1895

Vogue, the Atlantic Monthly, Harper's Young People, Youth's Companion, and the Century.

Most of her fiction is set in Louisiana Best-known work focuses on the lives of sensitive, intelligent women

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The Secret Life of BeesWritten in 2002Made into a movie in 2008Major Characters

Lily OwensT. RayRosaleenAugustMayJune

South Carolina in 1964

Lily longed for a motherNeglectful and abusive fatherPower of a female community

Boatwright sistersDaughters of Mary

encouragement, love, happiness, support, and became stronger as a woman

All from Google Images

The Color PurpleWritten in 1982Movie- 1985Setting- rural Georgia between 1910- 1940Characters

Celie Mr.ShugSofia Nettie

Abused by all the men in her lifeCaused feelings of worthlessness and resulted in constant obedience to menThese women she encounters provide a representation of strength, independence, intelligence, and a voiceNow independent financially, spiritually, and emotionally

Stands up and curses Mr.Begins pants business Nettie returns from Africa

All from Google Images

The AwakeningWritten in 1899Setting- 1899 in New Orleans

Industrial Revolution and the feminist movement

Quest for independence and self-fulfillmentCharacters

Edna PontellierLéonce Pontellier- husbandRobert Lebrun- Edna’s true loveMademoiselle Reisz- musical museAdèle- folloes duties as a wife and motherAlcée Arobin- has an affair with

Vacationing for the summer on Grand IsleMet Robert, Mademoiselle Reisz, and Adele

Robert flees to Mexico because he felt their relationship was doomedEdna and the family return to New OrleansShe starts to isolate herself from society and motherhoodWhile her husband is on a business trip and the children are gone, Edna moves into another house and begins an affair with Alcée ArobinRobert returns to New Orleans

Adele had complications in childbirth, Edna visitsWhen she returned, Robert left a letter and leftEdna returned to the island, and allows herself to be overtaken by the waters of the Gulf of Mexico A cowardly surrender or a liberating triumph?Edna’s Awakenings

conversations with Adèle remind her of her long-repressed passionsRobert Lebrun’s flirtations with Edna cause her to desire more independence from her husbandMademoiselle Reisz’s piano playing serves as artistic inspirationEdna swims in the ocean for the first time leading her on her self-fulfillment journey

Work CitiedBurling, William J. "Review: Secret Histories. Secret Lives." Jstor. SF-

TH Inc, Nov. 2007. Web. 17 May 2011. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/25475084>.

Cheung, King-Kok. ""Don't Tell": Imposed Silences in The Color Purple and The Woman Warrior." Jstor. Modern Language Association, Mar. 1988. Web. 16 May. 2011.

Flanagan, Mark. "Sue Monk Kidd Bio - Biography of Sue Monk Kidd Author of The Secret Life of Bees." About.com Contemporary Literature. Web. 15 May 2011. <http://contemporarylit.about.com/cs/authors/p/kidd.htm>.

Koloski, Bernard. "Kate Chopin: Her Novels and Stories." Kate Chopin: The Awakening, The Storm, Stories, Biography. Kate Chopin International Society. Web. 15 May 2011. <http://www.katechopin.org/>.

Lewis, Jone Johnson. "About Alice Walker." Women's History - Comprehensive Women's History Research Guide. Web. 15 May 2011. <http://womenshistory.about.com/od/alicewalker/a/alice_walker.htm>.

Ringe, Donald A. "Romantic Imagery in Kate Chopin's The Awakening." Jstor. Duke University Press, Jan. 1972. Web. 17 May 2011. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/2924655>

Tucker, Lindsey. "Alice Walker's The Color Purple: Emergent Woman, Emergent Text." Jstor. St. Louis University, Apr. 1988. Web. 17 May. 2011.