1.Introduction

Feminism, originating in the west, is defined as a social theory and political movement which is mainly on the basis of female social experience and social motivation. The word Feminism, first appeared in France, means that the women's liberation, then crosses to the British and American and becomes gradually popular. At the May Fourth movement in 1919, it is introduced to China and translated into feminism. Feminist theory aims to understand the nature of inequality, gender politics, power relations, sexuality and sexual consciousness. Exploration of feminism includes discrimination, stereotyping, materialization (especially about sexual objectification), body, household responsibilities, oppression and patriarchy.

Feminism in the United States refers to the collection of movements and ideologies aimed at defining, establishing, and defending a state of equal political, economic, cultural, and social rights for women in the United States. Feminism in the United States is often divided chronologically into first-wave,second-wave, and third-wave feminism.

Feminism in China began in the 20th century in tandem with the Chinese Revolution. Feminism in China is closely linked with socialism and class issues. Some commentators who believe that this close association is damaging to Chinese feminism and argue that the interests of party are placed before those of women.

Studying the differences of feminism between America and Chinese will not only be help of getting a comprehensive understanding on western feminism and eastern feminism but also be help of pointing out some constructive ways to the development of Chinese feminism.

1.1 Research background

In the early 1990s in the USA, third-wave feminism began as a response to perceived failures of the second wave and to the backlash against initiatives and movements created by the second wave. Third-wave feminism distinguished itself from the second wave around issues of sexuality, challenging female heterosexuality and celebrating sexuality as a means of female empowerment. Third-wave feminism also seeks to challenge or avoid what it deems the second wave's existentialist definitions of femininity, which, they argue, over-emphasize the experiences of upper middle-class white women. Third-wave feminists often focus on "micro-politics" and challenge the second wave's paradigm as to what is, or is not, good for women, and tend to use a post-structuralist interpretation of gender and sexuality. Feminist leaders rooted in the second wave, such as Gloria Anzald#250;a, bell hooks, Chela Sandoval, Cherr#237;e Moraga, Audre Lorde, Maxine Hong Kingston, and many other non-white feminists, sought to negotiate a space within feminist thought for consideration of race-related subjectivities. Third-wave feminism also contains internal debates between difference feminists, who believe that there are important differences between the sexes, and those who believe that there are no inherent differences between the sexes and contend that gender roles are due to social conditioning.

China has never experienced the feminist movement that America did in the 1960s and 70s. Equal in many respects#8212;women after all make up 46% of China's labor workforce#8212;still they encounter a daunting array of patriarchal attitudes. (This month saw China's first woman head into space and yet also a miserable case of forced abortion.) Though female high school students are outstripping their male peers in the fiercely competitive college entrance exams, they face discrimination in the workplace and are generally expected to manage the domestic sphere alone. China comes 61st in the Global Gender Gap Index, which is compiled by the World Economic Forum. (Iceland ranks 1st, Britain and America are 16th and 17th.)

1.2 Need for the study

Criticizing literary works from the perspective of analyzing female images is the earliest form of feminist literary criticism, a production in the process of the rising feminism. It unscrambles the literary works from a view of women to investigate the female consciousness of literature and emphasizes the pursuit of women's value, dignity, and independence. Hawthorne is a writer drawing attention of feminist literary critics for his works are usually believed the sign of women's rights. He describes Hester as a pursuer of freedom and individuality liberation, and the pioneer to pursuing true love. He intends to tell us something behind the heroine, that is, in my opinion, the feminist consciousness. Although many famous writers do create works from the angle of feminist literary criticism, no one has reached the height and depth as Hawthorne does. Therefore, a interpretation of The Scarlet Letter can help us figure out Hawthorne#8217;s writing intention in this classic as well as enhance a thorough understanding of feminist literary criticism in America. To this extent, it is of significance to research The Scarlet Letter and analyze the feminist consciousness in it, which, as a basis of comparing the feminism between America and China.