Feminism and Classical Literary Translation: The Practices and Strategies

¹ School of Foreign Languages, Capital Normal University, Beijing, 100000, China
² Sichuan International Studies, College of Western Languages and Cultures, Chongqing, 400031, China
³ School of English Language and Culture, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies South China Business College, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510545, China

^* Corresponding author: 22401651120@e.gwng.edu.cn

Abstract

This paper explores the practices and strategies of classical literary translation from a feminist perspective. By analyzing the interaction between feminist theory and translation practice, the paper reveals how feminism influences the translation process and outcomes of classical literary works. The study indicates that feminist translation practices not only focus on gender biases at the linguistic level but also involve a deep understanding of cultural and social contexts to ensure that translated works more comprehensively reflect women’s voices and experiences. The paper reviews the development of feminist translation theory, particularly how it has emerged from traditional translation norms, emphasizing gender awareness and cultural sensitivity in translation. Then this paper examines specific case studies to illustrate the application of feminist translation strategies in classical literary works, including preface and footnotes, supplementing, hijaking. These strategies aim to break traditional gender stereotypes and provide a more equitable representation of female characters and themes which can reflect women’s experiences and voice.