Feminism in literature focuses on the portrayal and experiences of women in writings compared to men. Early philosophers like Aristotle and Aquinas viewed women as inherently inferior to men. Many works depicted women in subordinate roles to men and restricted them from certain professions. Later feminist thinkers like Mary Wollstonecraft criticized the oppression of women in society, likening their condition to slavery. Writers like Virginia Woolf explored how patriarchal social structures limited what women could achieve. Feminist literary criticism examines how women are represented, whether they are portrayed as subordinate, and if they are restricted to traditional gender roles and domestic duties.