Female Opression and Finding a Voice

The feminist criticism piece, "Feminist Criticism in the Wilderness", by Elaine Showalter is an appealing read and has significant relevance to Zadie Smith's White Teeth.
The idea that British feminist criticism is concerned with female oppression in literature is intriguing and parallels with some of the female character's experiences in White Teeth. Alsana is an interesting character because because some may stereotypically perceive her as a submissive, Muslim
woman is under her husband's rule. In actuality, she is a fiery, independent thinker, who according to Archie, wears the "lovely, silken trousers in the family" (Smith, P.127). Smith cleverly combats the idea of the fragile,oppressed female in literature that feminist critics battle against, by delivering a refreshingly, bold character like Alsana.
Showalter's article also discusses women's need to find their voice in literature.
Zadie Smith delivers to us a female voice dying to be heard in Irie. Irie is the quintessential, overweight, adolescent girl who is the symbol of teen angst in the novel. The reader sees her struggle through the cruelty of adolescence as a dejected girl who falls below the beauty standard. The issues of feminine ideals coupled with race that Irie deals with in the text are issues of much concern to feminist critics.