3 articles about Jane Eyre female criticism:

Jane Eyre and feminist literature:

This first article basically summarizes how astronomical Jane's actions were for her time period. She survives a messed up childhood, a school that could have passed as a morgue, and then a liar face fiancee. Throughout her entire life she keeps a level head and makes the right decisions even when the difference between right and wrong is pretty blurry.

Female victims and feminist literature:

This article is based around female characters that suffered trauma in their childhood and it effected their adult-life. Jane had a pretty messed up childhood what with the red-room and her crazy Aunt Reed and evil cousins. This makes her a timid person that knows her place. Sure she'll speak her mind when spoken too but she knows were her place is.

Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre and the Grimm's Cinderella:

This last article summarizes how female's tend to play the "damsel in distress" role quite a bit. They are always in peril and men generally play the hero part of rescuing them. Jane Eyre is an odd example of this because she actually takes control of her life, besides when she is about to marry Rochester.

Snodgrass, Mary Ellen. "Jane Eyre and feminist literature." Encyclopedia of Feminist Literature. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2006. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=1&iPin=GEFL172&SingleRecord=True (accessed September 7, 2011).

Snodgrass, Mary Ellen. "female victims and feminist literature." Encyclopedia of Feminist Literature. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2006. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=1&iPin=GEFL181&SingleRecord=True (accessed September 7, 2011).

Clarke, Micael M. "Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre and the Grimms' Cinderella." Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900 40, no. 4 (Autumn 2000). Quoted as "Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre and the Grimms' Cinderella" in Bloom, Harold, ed. Jane Eyre, Bloom's Guides. New York: Chelsea House Publishing, 2007. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts on File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=1&iPin=BGJE042&SingleRecord=True (accessed September 7, 2011)