Feminist Theory
(with Special Focus On Frankenstein)
(special thanks to Allison Parish for this information)

General Definition:  Feminism is the theory that men and women should be equal politically, socially, and economically. There are many variations on this general idea, including Amazon feminism, Cultural Feminism, Eco-feminism, Material Feminism, Moderate Feminism, Pop-feminism, and Radical Feminism.

Amazon Feminism - A type of feminism dedicated to the image of the female hero in Greek mythology and physical equality between males and females.

Cultural Feminism - A theory that there are fundamental personality differences between men and women, and that women’s differences are special and should be celebrated.

Eco-feminism - A theory that rests on the basic principal that patriarchal philosophies are harmful to women, children, and other living things.

Material feminism - A movement of the late 19th century to liberate women by improving their material condition.  This movement revolved around taking the “burden” off women in regards to housework, cooking, and other traditionally female jobs.

Moderate Feminism - This type of feminism tends to question the need for further effort in the feminism effort.

Pop-Feminism - This type of feminism degrades men in all manners and glorifies women.

Radical Feminism - This type of feminism questions why women must assume certain roles based on their biology, just as it questions why men must assume certain roles based on their biology.

Feminism in Relation to Frankenstein

Mary Shelley’s mother was a huge feminist.  She died eleven days after Mary was born from an infection contracted during labor.  She wrote several articles and books voicing her views on feminism, one of which was A Vindication of the Rights of Women.  After her mother’s death, Mary developed an unhealthy attachment to her mother’s grave where she often read and wrote. Mary often read the books her mother wrote and idolized the mother whom she never knew, which is believed to have had an effect on her writing.

Mary experienced many other tragedies during her lifetime, including the suicide of her half-sister Fanny Imlay in 1816 and the suicide of Mary’s husband’s wife, Harriet, just weeks later.  Mary gave birth to four children, three of which died in infancy.  Despite these tragedies Mary continued to write, but not without effect on her writing.

Some feminist groups believe the relationship between Dr. Frankenstein and his monster is a result of the author’s simultaneous attraction and repulsion toward motherhood.  Others believe that the link between creation, birth, and death in Frankenstein is a result of Mary’s real-life experience with pregnancy, labor, maternity, and death, through the death of her mother and the death of her young children.  Victor Frankenstein has even been said to play the role of the mother who neglects her child and must suffer the consequences of her actions through retribution upon the monster and creator for insufficient care.