Gender Politics and the Sense of Revolt against Patriarchy: A Reading in the Poetry of Selected Modern American Women-Poets

Abstract: The feminist movement has undergone different and critical phases in its history ranging from peaceful protests to violent reactions and it has assumed an aggressive dimension in the Western world, particularly in America and France a long time ago. In many countries, it is only beginning to witness the activity of self-actualization, assertiveness and independence by women. Despite the fact that the power of the female emerged in the Western hemisphere, many women are still compelled to put on a mask, a veil and a type of purdah in many countries of the world. This piece of research attempts to examine the politics of feminism in the poetry of Elizabeth Bishop, Anne Sexton, and Adrienne Rich. The findings of this study reveal that Elizabeth Bishop maintains a reticent and covert kind of feminism where she revolts against the male’s exploitation of the woman’s body and expresses her regret for the loss of romantic and spiritual love, Anne Sexton makes out of her bitter experiences a catalyst for women to struggle for their rights, while Adrienne Rich takes feminism to its extremes as she calls for a rigorous and radical revision of the existing Western culture which is based on patriarchal principles.