analytical paragraphs about I am a woman

The author uses repetition, comparisons, and responses to anticipated criticism to assert her qualifications as a writer and celebrate her “serious style.”

In the passage, this proud female author asserts her qualifications as a writer, dispels myths about the style of female authors, and defends the capabilities of her gender with pride.

The author starts by asserting her gender with pride even though she later acknowledges that this “avowal” places her at a disadvantage so that she can attack the prejudices that limit the level of respect and opportunities afforded to female writers. 

         The author responds to anticipated criticism that she could not hide her femininity or succeed as a writer by asserting her qualifications. She claims that she could “deceive” men because her “serious style” is similar to that which is “deemed the peculiar strength of man.”  This acknowledgment that she could hide her gender, reveals that she has great pride in her qualifications.  She details the positive qualities of her writing –“vigor of thought, comprehensiveness of view, fanciful sprightliness”- that reflect traits common to both male and female writers to convince readers that she is the most accomplished of both genders.  Enumerating her talents guards her from “poisoned shafts” of criticism that men would use to discount her as a serious talent.

         The author lists in detail all of the tenets of her writing style in order to assert her qualifications as a gifted writer who is equal to (better than) men. She claims that she has the ability to “deceive” readers because her style is like that of men.  She possesses “a vigor of thought, a comprehensiveness of view, and a terseness of diction” that most people think only men are capable of producing.  However, she celebrates her own qualifications because she can also include the “fanciful sprightliness” that is the “peculiar grace of woman.”  The elements of her style that men also possess would already be universally respected, and the positive language she uses to describe the traits of women would make them equally respectable.