Fourth Wave Feminism In Contemporary Poetics: The Crossing of Categorical Boundaries.

Abstract

This thesis argues that primary defining characteristic of how fourth-wave feminism aligns with contemporary poetics appears to be the deliberate and strategic crossing of categorical boundaries; this occurs on multiple levels, both in form and in content: from publication platforms, to nationhood, to individual physical bodies including body image. In order to do this, this thesis investigated nine poets on all three levels. To investigate the level of platforms this thesis will investigate Caroline Kaufman, Nikita Gill and Blythe Baird. To investigate the different nations, this thesis will focus on Rupi Kaur, Lang Leav and Yrsa Daley-Ward. To investigate the issues surrounding body and body image this thesis will look into poets Amanda Lovelace, Laurie Clements Lambeth and Ryka Aoki. This is done in order to find out how their poems align with fourth-wave feminism in order to conclude and point out how they cross these categorical boundaries. Despite the differences of all the poems, one main message can be found that aligns with fourth-wave feminism: in a world where females and their qualities are still subordinated to males and their qualities, women have to stand together as one united group. A group where everyone is equal, a group where everyone has a voice. Women should stand and be seen as a united group instead of being torn down by their differences and the inequality between these differences.