女性主义(Feminism)一词,最早出现在法国,意指女性的社会平等与个性解放;后传到英美,逐渐流行起来。西方女性主义的理论思潮一开始便具有多元色彩,女性主义文学批评因而也一直呈现出多样性特征,其中,英国女性主义较关注女性自我意识的觉醒,女性的社会作用;而美国女性主义侧重于研究女性身份的认同。 Feminism first appeared in France, which meant women’s social equality and liberation of personality; later spread to Britain and the United States, gradually became popular. The theoretical trend of Western feminism began with a diversity of colors. Feminist literary criticism has also been characterized by diversity. British feminism has paid more attention to the awakening of female self-awareness and the social role of women. American feminism has focused on Study women’s identities.