Fanny Was a Cool Girl: A Feminist Reading of Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure

This dissertation examines John Cleland's Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure through the lens of feminist theory. The research explores the narrative's emancipatory potential while grappling with Cleland’s position as a male author. Despite the controversies surrounding his representation of female empowerment, the novel addresses critical themes such as consent, sexual agency, and the flaws of patriarchal systems. The study is structured in three chapters: the first develops a historical and theoretical framework of feminist thought, the second contextualises Cleland's life and the societal norms of his time, and the final chapter provides an in-depth analysis of the text, focusing on the inherent resistance and empowerment found within its narrative. Ultimately, the dissertation argues that while the novel may reproduce certain heteronormative ideals, it also offers significant emancipatory potential worthy of exploration within contemporary feminist discourse.