International Journal of Research (IJR) Vol-2, Issue-1 January 2015 ISSN 2348-6848

Feminist Literary Criticism: The Case Study of Paul Elam´s Short Story ´´Anger Management`` Muhammad Usman Khan Department of Letters UNESP-Rio Preto Campus (Brazil) Abstract

Pual Elam is an initiator of ´´A Voice for Elam, , Literary Criticism, ``, a site dedicated to masculinism , and men´s rights. Elam and his group insist that men are oppressed and Introduction deprived in all over the world generally and in American soceity especially. He Paul Elam is the founder and also organised a conference about the animating force of ```` issues faced by men and from that which is an influenctial site for men´s platefrom, he criticised feminist idealogy. rights movement. A Voice for Men is one Elam also writes articles and short of the most visible and active among stories about his perspective and many men's rights activism (MRA) sites, expresses his counter-feminist ideas video channels and forums for people freely. ´´Anger Management `` is his who are involved in the movement. It also popular short story among readers which includes some women. The group claims is pointed many times by some feminists. that men are oppressed in American This short story tells about a man who society and intends to diminish feminism. broke the nose of his wife with his punch Some have criticized men’s rights because she ran away with his business activism because of packaging misogyny partner. As a result, a man was sent to a as preacing equal rights for men (Kate, jail. The short story was analysed 2014). Elam believes men are society's critically with feminist perspective and victims and need a forum to vent. He checked how a woman was characterised added institutions like marriage and within it. Some major themes of feminism unfair family courts have become risky such as male-dominance, gender for men (Pry & Valiente, 2013). inferiority, powerlessness of women, female physical & mental qualities, Elam´s anti-feminist attitude is so sexuality, sufferage and stereoptyes about clear from his writtings that sometimes he women were studied in it. It was calls a woman a monster for trying to care concluded that the writer has tried to for her little boy (Munchausen, 2014) and sympathise with that man, a protagonist he is also a fierce misogynist with a who exercised a violence against his wife. penchant for angry, violent rhetoric that is In this way, a is full of only-slightly veiled threats supported by him. In addition, a woman is (Futrelle, 2014a, para. 2). There is Elam´s presented as powerless, sexual slave and 2010 post where he claims that women stereotyped as disloyal to her husband get raped because they are stupid, who can run away from his home any arrogant, and narcissistic (DiBranco, time she wants. 2014). According to Elam (2010), it is a testament to men, and an exposure of lies Keywords: perpetrated against them by gender ideologues that scholars have understood

Page | 514

International Journal of Research (IJR) Vol-2, Issue-1 January 2015 ISSN 2348-6848 this last half century without war in the The short story ´´Anger streets. It has always been in fortune of management`` is criticised litterally with men to sacrifice for others better than feminist perspective. Feminist literary themselves, and they have justified that criticism is a movement of human with their silence in the face of so many philosophy with some ideals that regular abuses. Betting on that silence to emphasizes the true and lawful status of continue when men are hungry is women in literature. Literary critics of stupidity. feminism are more concerned with language and script about gender as Paul Elam organized an compared to sociopolitical feminists. international conference on men´s issues Ellen Morgan restated Woolf´s advice: and as a result, many feminists criticised ´´Feminist criticism should, I believe the debates taken place there just like in encourage an art true to women´s past men´s rights activists have long been experience and not filtered through a male notorious in feminist circles (Stevens, perspective or constricted to fit male 2014). One speaker of the conference standards`` (Register, 1989, p. 19). supposed that women are solely accountable for all domestic violence Research Question because, having all the power in relationships, they could normally choose How is a woman presented in not to wed violent men (Hesse, 2014). Elam´s short-story regarding feminist These types of slogans arised another perspective? debate among feminists and others critics. The followers of Elam say that they are Research Method oppressed by irrational feminists who do not like men. The group also blames on The content analysis of the Elam`s women of exaggerating the number of short-story was conducted and the and denounces “the institution of following themes of concerns were marriage as unsafe and unsuitable for explored in its text applying the measures modern men” (Neavling, 2014). of feminist literary theory.

Paul Elam also writes articles and 1. Petrirtic society or male- short-stories about men´s rights and anti- dominated society where women feminism. ´´Anger Management`` is his are dependent. controversial short-story that, according to some critics, reflects his counter- 2. Woemen are inferior than men. feminist viewpoint. In Elam´s words, ´´it is based on a true story`` (2012). The 3. Women are powerless. story is written after the twenty-year 4. Women have low physical or experience of Elam, he worked as a drug mental qualities. and alcohol counselor. For his counselees, the domestic violence was a recurring 5. Women are sexual salves. issue. He further tells that “sometimes the stories were not as predictable or 6. Women have no rights to . stereotypical as what people hear about” (p. 20). 7. Negative about women.

Page | 515

International Journal of Research (IJR) Vol-2, Issue-1 January 2015 ISSN 2348-6848

Theoretical Framework opportunities in society as men. b) Social feminism calims that women are The present research is based on oppressed due to the class system. c) feminist literary theory. This theory Redical feminism focuses on sexual explains a literary phenomenon with relationship between man and women and respect to a feminist perspective. Feminist defined that men are the problem and literary theory is a wide ambrella under women are the solution (Rachman, which many critics survive with some para.12-14). French, American and different understandings of literature British literary theorists share some basic about women. Among feminist theorists, ideas of feminism. Showalter, a major an essence of woman is a common theme. representative of Anglo-American Feminist literary criticism arised a feminist literary theory, emphasizes two theoretical issue with the birth of the new types of feminist criticism: the first one is women's movement commenced in the the feminist critique, that offers feminist early 1960s (Oppermann, 1994). By readings of male texts in which analyzing the roles of the women within the stereotypes of women in literature are literature, it can be revealed that what kind inquired. In her opoint of view, this of personal qualties the author ascribes to approach is restricted because it relies on the women and what kind of role the male critical theory to be global. women and men would have played in Therefore she adopts the secondary mode relation to each other, which adds an upper of feminist criticism, gynocriticism, that level of comprehension to any text (Wilcox, will build a female framework for the 2009). analysis of women´s literature and develop new models based on the study Feminist critics want to change the of female experience (Kostic, 2006, p. great canon of Western literature because, 72). Kristeva, a great symbol of French they think, it was unilaterly men who feminist literary theory, goes beyond composed those works and male critics gender differences; she is not female or who decided for their importance male focused; according to her, feminist (Gardiner, p. 395). There are two writing has nothing to do with the sex of different modes of feminist criticism. The the author, it is a character inscribed in first mode is studies the feminist as the text itself that rises at points when the reader, and it presents feminist readings author is generally not in control of the of texts which conceptualizes the images, meaning of the text (Ibid, 2006, p. 73). and stereotypes of women in literature, the omissions and misconceptions about While the problems of difference women in criticism, and women-as-sign and were significant both to the in semiotic systems. The second mode of political policy of searching about the feminist criticism dessiminated by this interactions of race, class and gender and approach is the study of women as writers to the deconstructive policy of and its subjects are the history, styles, postmodern , they also themes, genres and structures of writing evoked some doubt among feminist by women...(Showlter, 1981, pp. 182- scholars about the viability of the feminist 184). enterprise in general (Davis, 2008, p. 71). As one might fortell, every feminism has The three main types of feminism the recognition of the material conditions, are: a) Liberal feminism that asserts that women do not have the same freedom and

Page | 516

International Journal of Research (IJR) Vol-2, Issue-1 January 2015 ISSN 2348-6848 ideological presuppositions and socio- at last Christmas. When he asked her political structures of its place of birth. In about the reason of leaving his home the 21st century, feminist theorising in permanantly, her reply was very insulting. some countries of the globe has She told him that he was a losser because intertwined with study of sexuality, queer he could not fulfill her needs from the day theories and trans activism. In other of the marriage. She further said that it is countries of the world, issues such as better for him to be far from his two access to education, sanitation, and health daughters and any more contact with her care, prohibition of child marriage, or them would be through a lawyer. She divorce reform, and equitable land and also told him to kiss her for a last time as inheritance rights remain the focus farewell. Consequently, Howard punched (Macleod, Marecek & Capdevila, 2014, her face and broke her nose. After that, he p. 7). was sent to a jail.

Discussion After doing try for weeks to conversate with his daughters, last week In this short-story, Howard Franks Howard was permitted to talk to his is a main character who narrates his oldest, Lisa, on the telephone. It was a incident which led him to a jail. He tells great pleasure for him to talk with Lisa on about his domestic violence against his telephone. At once, he told her daughter wife to a group set in a court. One of his that he missed her very much and could audiences is a psychotherapist. Howard not wait to see her. As soon as he vowed was a blameless person leading his life about meeting with Lisa, she replied, ´´I with peace and happiness untill six weeks can’t see you till your better, Daddy. earlier. He married a woman and two Mommy said you’re sick.`` daughters were born with them. He was a successful businessman working with As a feminist literary critic, the another partner. One day, his father, researcher picked some selected passages living far from them, died unexpectedly of Elam`s short-story and analyzed them and Howard´s wife convinced him to go citically. There were many counter- alone to attend his father´s funeral in feminist ideas found in it. For example, Baltimore, a city. On the return, when he ´´I gave my wife so many beatings I was coming back, he thought to buy some couldn’t even begin to count them. In flowers in the way for his wife, Kate, as a here I learned where it was coming from. present. When he checked his credit card Power, man, and I am just flat addicted to and discussed the matter of no balance in it. It gave me a rush, a sick rush, to do it, with bank, he was informed that all his what I did to her`` (Elam, p. 20). In this money is snached by his wife. When he type of confesssion, the short-story writer reached his home, he found his home tried to convince the readers about power empty from every thing because his wife and strenght of men. It indicates a male- had taken all the precious things with her dominated society where Howard and his and went away with his business partner. wife Kate were living. Howard justified The two kids were also stashed by her. his violence against his wife because he was powerful. ``But my credit card was Howard headed towards the house declined. I called the bank and was of his business partner where his wife was informed that all my accounts were living with him. Howard´s wife opened closed. All the money was gone``. “I went the door wearing a silk robe he gave her home and nobody was there. I found the

Page | 517

International Journal of Research (IJR) Vol-2, Issue-1 January 2015 ISSN 2348-6848 kids with her mother. And she, she ´´I [Howard] was thinking the was…” “She was with my business whole time that as bad as things were that partner. They had taken it all. The money, I could live with it, that I could manage a the business, all gone. Everything” (Elam, way to move forward if I could just be p. 21). In these sentences, the writer with my children`` (Elam, p. 22). In these stereotyped a woman negatively as lines, the writer tried to tell his readers disloyal with her husband. She was so that Howard, as a man, had a great sense disloyal that she cleaned up every thing to rearrange his life and live again with found in his home and ran away with his Kate and her children but it was his wife business partner. who was solely responsible for all distructions taken place in their family. A ´´She told me it was because I was negative role is ascribed to a female. a loser. She told me she was a woman Actullay, Elam wants to explain that a with needs and that I never, from the day man is a real victum of dometic violence. we were married, met them``...´´She told Each year, October is celebrated as a me that she would kiss me goodbye but domestic violence awareness month. she didn’t think I’d like the taste of According to Elam, ´´in the name of another man’s cock on her lips`` (Elam, p. equality and fairness, I am proclaiming 21). In these dictions, a woman is October to be Bash a Violent Bitch presented as a sex slave who could not Month`` (Futrelle, 2014a). In short, it may live without fulfillment of her sexual be inferred from the story that on many desires. In another place, Elam clearified, occasions, the is ´´I have ideas about women who spend justified, and in fact, the men are victims evenings in bars hustling men for drinks, who are sentenced for their violence by playing on their sexual desires …`` spending some time in jail, by having to (Futrelle, 2014a). ´´I punched her in the go to psychological treatment, and by face and broke her nose. I just stood there restrictions on contact with their children afterward, looking at her on the ground (Futrelle, 2014b). with her face full of blood. It was like I was watching a movie with the sound Conclusion off`` ( Elam, p. 21). This passage shows the domestic violence exercised against In present short-story, Howard women. ´´Are you saying she deserved to Franks, a man is a protagonist and his be battered, Howard? That she deserved a wife, Kate, a woman is an antogonist. In broken nose?`` ´´No, Ms. Pitts. I am this way, Elam Pual epitomized misogyny saying she deserved the ass kicking of a at it's worst and masculism is emphasized lifetime.`` ´´One of the men muttered unnecessarily. The tone of this short-story “Fucking A right,”`` (Elam, p. 22). Again, is anti-feminist because a woman is the writer justified a domestic violence presented as powerless and sexual slave against women and exaggerated that they living in a male dominated society. A are deserved the ass kicking of a lifetime. man is considered as a center of strenght, The readers are expected to mutter superior than woman and having a natural “fucking A, right,” along with the right to exercise domestic violence anonymous man in his listeners after against woman. A woman is also Howard tells that his wife deserved more stereotyped as disloyal with her husband. than a broken nose (Futrelle, 2014b). The writer has so sympathy for Howard, that throughout the story, he is supposed as victim and innocent person. Some

Page | 518

International Journal of Research (IJR) Vol-2, Issue-1 January 2015 ISSN 2348-6848 external statements of the writer also Elam of A Voice for Men justifies support his views about women presented violence against women in a in this short-story. Finally, it can be disturbing short story. Retrieved concluded that the author has anti- from feminist attitude that was clear from his http://wehuntedthemammoth.com/ fiction. 2014/05/19/she-deserved-the-ass- kicking-of-a-lifetime-paul-elam- References of-a-voice-for-men-justifies- violence-against-women-in-a- [1.] Davis, K. (2008). disturbing-short-story/ as Buzzword: A Sociology of Science Perspective on What [7.] Gardiner, A. B. (n. d.). Feminist Makes a Feminist Theory Literary Criticism: From Anti- Successful. Feminist Theory, 9, 1, to the Celebration of 67-85. doi: Decadence. Modern Age, 49, 4, 10.1177/1464700108086364 393-399. Hesse, M. (2014). Men’s rights [2.] DiBranco, A. (2014). Men´s activists, gathering to discuss all Rights Conference Host Says the ways society has done them Women Who Drink & Dance Are wrong. Retrieved from ``Begging`` for Rape. Retrieved http://www.washingtonpost.com/li from festyle/style/mens-rights-activists- http://www.politicalresearch.org/t gathering-to-discuss-all-the-ways- ag/paul-elam/ society-has-done-them- wrong/2014/06/30/a9310d96- [3.] Elam, Paul (2010). How to Build a 005f-11e4-8fd0- Man Bomb. Retrieved from 3a663dfa68ac_story.html http://failuresforgodesses.blogspot .com.br/2010/05/sobering-article- [8.] Kate, Abbey-Lambertz. (2014). by-paul-elam.html Controversial Men's Rights Conference Sparks Backlash. [4.] Elam, Paul. (2012). Anger Retrieved from Management. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2 http://www.avoiceformen.com/me 014/05/29/mens-rights- ns-rights/domestic-violence- conference_n_5405300.html industry/anger-management/Elam, Paul. (n. d.). Anger Management. [9.] Kostic, M. (2006). Feminist The Oddville Press, 1, 2, 20-22. Theory and Practice in the Poetry of Adrienne Rich. Linguistics and [5.] Futrelle, D. (2014a). Paul Elam of Literature, 4, 1, 71-84. A Voice for Men: In His Own Words. Retrieved on July 15, [10.] Macleod, C. Marecek, J. & 2014 from Capdevila, R. (2014). Feminism http://wehuntedthemammoth.com/ and Psychology Going Farward. 2013/10/18/paul-elam-of-a-voice- Feminism & Psychology, 24, 1, 3- for-men-in-his-own-words/ 17. doi: 10.1177/0959353513515308 [6.] Futrelle, D. (2014b). She deserved the ass-kicking of a lifetime: Paul

Page | 519

International Journal of Research (IJR) Vol-2, Issue-1 January 2015 ISSN 2348-6848

[11.] Munchausen, V. (2014). Criticism: Explorations in Theory An Open Letter to Paul Elam. (2nd. pp. 1-28). Kentucky: The Retrieved on July 15, 2014 from University Press of Kentucky. http://vonmunchausen.com/2014/0 7/an-open-letter-to-paul-elam/ [17.] Showalter, E. (1981). Feminist Criticism in [12.] Neavling, S. (2014). Odd theWilderness. Critical Inquiry, 8, twist: Controversial men’s rights 2, 179-205. conference in Detroit moves to suburban VFW hall. Retrieved [18.] Stevens, A. B. (2014). from Protest Saturday: Misogynistic http://motorcitymuckraker.com/bl MRA Conference in Detroit. og/2014/06/12/odd-twist- Retrieved from controversial-mens-rights- http://msmagazine.com/blog/2014 conference-in-detroit-moves-to- /06/06/protest-saturday- suburban-vfw/ misogynistic-mra-conference-in- detroit/ [13.] Oppermann, Serpil Tunç. (1994). Feminist Literary [19.] Wilcox, K. (2009). Criticism: Expanding the Canon Feminist Literary Criticism and as Regards the Novel. Ýngiliz Dili Lysistrata. Agora, 18, Retrieved ve Edebiyatý Bölümü Dergisi, 2, from 65-98. Retrieved from http://www.agorajournal.org/2009 http://warlight.tripod.com/OPPER agora.html MANN.html

[14.] Pry, A. & Valiente, A. (2013). Women Battle Online Anti-Women Hate From the ''. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/Technolog y/women-battle-online-anti- women-hate- manosphere/story?id=20579038

[15.] Rachman, A. (n. d.). Feminist Literary Criticism: An Enderstanding of Feminism. Retrieved on July 11, 2014 from https://www.academia.edu/15059 34/feminist_literary_criticism_an_ introduction

[16.] Ragister, C. (1989). American Feminist Literary Criticism: A Bibliographical Introduction. In J. Donovan (Eds.), Feminist Literary

Page | 520