Introduction

Hello, I am Samantha Kaufman...I know yet another Samantha in this class! But, you can call me Sam, no one ever calls me Samantha unless it's to be funny. I'm a Junior here having recently transferred from JCC and my major is Social Work. I started off as an Art major but quickly changed my mind when I took a psychology class and found almost nothing interesting or challenging about being an art major although I enjoy being creative.

  The reason I am taking this course is because my major required it. Although, I have always enjoyed various English classes this one struck me as interesting and new. I've always enjoyed reading and never really given much thought about what gender the author was while reading the book until I began this class. I wonder how knowing this now will effect my reading and how I read the book. That's not a bad thing. 

  "The term 'woman writer'...has no meaning, not intellectually, not morally, not historically. A writer is a writer." 

  This quote in particular is how I think about writers...for now. I believe that is partially true. I believe yes, woman have some barriers and they know that these barriers exist. They know so much that these barriers exist that they hide their gender behind initials and pseudonyms. I don't believe that is right but at least their voice and words are being heard. If a writer is good, well written and catches the readers attention, why should the rest of the world care what their gender is? But, that's just what I think for now. My mind is open to be changed throughout this course and I hope that I can more fully understand what there is to know specifically about Women in literature.