In Conversation: Dystopian Novels and Feminist Theory
Location
Ponderosa Room B
Presentation Type
Presentation
Presentation Topic
Fiction Literature, Feminist Theory
Start Date
6-3-2026 3:35 PM
Event Sort Order
48
Abstract
After the debut of the television adaptation of Margaret Atwood's 1985 novel The Handmaid's Tale, many feminists across the western world used the show as the theory upon which to base their practice of activism. Some women donned the costume, a long red dress with a white bonnet, while attending abortion rights protests. But what are the flaws in using fictional dystopia as feminist theory? In this presentation, I'll be using four feminist dystopian novels as case studies: The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, Manhunt by Gretchen Felker-Martin, The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler, and Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica. I'll analyze these texts as one analyzes feminist theory, specifically looking at the shortcomings of dystopian literature as a foundation for feminist praxis.
In Conversation: Dystopian Novels and Feminist Theory
Ponderosa Room B
After the debut of the television adaptation of Margaret Atwood's 1985 novel The Handmaid's Tale, many feminists across the western world used the show as the theory upon which to base their practice of activism. Some women donned the costume, a long red dress with a white bonnet, while attending abortion rights protests. But what are the flaws in using fictional dystopia as feminist theory? In this presentation, I'll be using four feminist dystopian novels as case studies: The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, Manhunt by Gretchen Felker-Martin, The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler, and Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica. I'll analyze these texts as one analyzes feminist theory, specifically looking at the shortcomings of dystopian literature as a foundation for feminist praxis.
Presenter Bio
August Fritton is a senior English and Women's and Gender Studies student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He is currently finishing his creative writing senior thesis, a set of poems written throughout his college career. He'd like to thank Rose Holz, Ava Winter, James Brunton, and his therapist for their support throughout the past four years.