Literature is written work, such as stories, poems, and plays, that is valued for its ideas, language, and artistic qualities. It often explores human experiences and emotions in a deep or creative way.
The word comes from Latin “litterātūra,” meaning “writing” or “learning,” based on “littera,” letter. Over time, it came to refer especially to writing that is considered art, not just information.
Literature is like a time machine for human feelings: you can read someone’s thoughts from hundreds of years ago and still feel understood. Cultures all over the world use literature to question power, explore identity, and imagine futures that don’t exist—yet.
The category of ‘literature’ has often been defined in ways that privilege works by men and exclude or devalue writing by women, especially in genres like romance, domestic fiction, or popular fiction. Canon formation and curricula have historically underrepresented women and gender-diverse authors.
When referring to ‘the literature,’ specify whether you mean scholarly or creative works and ensure that your examples and citations include authors of different genders where relevant. Acknowledge historical gaps in representation when summarizing a field.
["written works","scholarly literature","research corpus"]
Women and gender-diverse writers have expanded and reshaped literary traditions worldwide, often challenging the very boundaries of what counts as ‘literature.’
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