Evolution of Feminist Discourse in Canadian Literature: From Expressive Realism to Empowering Narratives

The complicated and dynamic narrative of feminism in Canadian literature reflects the country's greater social and cultural changes. Before the 1980s, expressive realism, a literary strategy that sought to portray reality in a vivid and emotional way, was the main characteristic of English-Canadian feminist writing. But literary critics and academics of the era frequently emphasised portraying women as passive objects of observation rather than active contributors to the formation of knowledge and discourse. This strategy did not address representation, gender, or language issues theoretically. In this setting, women were frequently portrayed as subjects of study rather than knowledge makers, which maintained their marginalised position. Women writers from England-Canada were encouraged to experiment with their writing techniques in order to subvert the country's predominate expressive realist discourse. By deviating from accepted norms, these authors aimed to investigate topics and viewpoints that had previously been disregarded or repressed. This article looks into Canadian narratives, especially women’s contributions to literature.