This year, in American Literature, we’ve focused on four main works: “The Catcher in the Rye,” by J. D. Salinger, “Doubt,” by John Patrick Shanley, “In Cold Blood,” by Truman Capote, and “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” by Mark Twain.

These works all have something in common- they’re all by a man, all with conflict revolving around a man, and all, except “Doubt,” have a man as their main character.

Now, we have read some poems by female writers, such as Emily Dickinson, but those take up far less time and prominence in the curriculum.

It is time to include more female authors in our English classes. Throughout my life, I have had mostly female teachers teaching mostly male authors in language arts.

Women have had a vastly important role in literary history. Both male and female students alike need to understand and respect the female viewpoint. And more importantly, it is time that women in general stop being ignored in any class, in favor of powerful men.