To understand literature from a feminist perspective, one must analyze how a text either criticizes or affirms patriarchal ideology through its portrayal of traditional gender roles, objectification of women, distinctions between sex and gender, and the "cult of true womanhood", with some exceptions based on factors like race and class.

1. To understand literature
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2. • Feminism as human rights
criticism
• Text can criticize or affirm
patriarchal ideology
• Sometimes a text does both

3. Components of patriarchy—
• Traditional gender roles
• Objectification of women
• Sex vs gender
• “Cult of True Womanhood”
• Exceptions to these rules
based on race and class