Interdisciplinary Learning by Bridging Theory and Literature: Exploring Feminist Discourse through Fiction

This article argues for the pedagogical value of using literary texts–specifically Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own–as an entryway into foundational concepts in feminist theory. It identifies three thematic clusters essential to feminist thought: (1) material conditions and gendered inequalities, (2) representation and discursive power, and (3) language, subjectivity, and gendered expression. Through close textual analysis, the article demonstrates how Woolf’s narrative not only illuminates these themes but also renders abstract theoretical debates accessible to students encountering them for the first time. Integrating concrete classroom strategies, the study shows how Woolf’s text can scaffold students’ understanding of feminist concerns related to economic precarity, epistemic authority, gender construction, canonical exclusion, and the politics of language. Ultimately, the article contends that teaching feminist theory through literature enhances conceptual comprehension, strengthens critical and interpretive skills, and cultivates a nuanced awareness of how gender, power, and discourse intersect across both historical and contemporary contexts.