¿Femenino o Feminista? Mensajes para el presente de tres escritoras hispanas del siglo XIX

This thesis is a comparative study of Spanish and Latin-American women writers of the 19th century. This work shows how these writers, even though distanced by geographical and/or generational gaps, as well as cultural differences, share, not only the Spanish language but also common interests, themes and discursive characteristics. The investigation focuses on the work of three renowned writers: Cecilia Böhl de Faber from Spain, and Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda and Clorinda Matto de Turner, from Latin-America. The three of them revolutionized in different ways the feminine perception in the nineteenth century. The introductory chapter provides a general overview of different feminist perspectives of the 20th century and their usefulness in the analysis and application of these perspectives to the works of Hispanic women writers. It also comprises a general comparative study of the female literary situation from both sides of the Atlantic in the later portion of the 19th century. In addition, we also include a general overview of Hispanic literary development in feminine writing from both continents throughout the last few centuries. The following chapters address each writer, their individuality and their human messages to both the audience at that time and that of today. The conclusion establishes their collectiveness as writers who worried and worked for the betterment of woman\u27s lives. It deals with what unites them together in the creation of particular human literary messages that can be seen on both sides of the spectrum. The bibliography included in our investigation will be useful for further study in this subject and will help to develop new ideas for additional research