Elaine Ryan Hedges | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Elaine Ryan August 18, 1927 |
| Died | June 5, 1997 (aged 69) |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Elaine Hedges |
| Occupation(s) | writer, academic, feminist |
| Years active | 1951-1997 |
| Known for | pioneering feminist literary criticism |
Elaine Ryan Hedges (August 18, 1927 – June 5, 1997) was an American feminist who pioneered Women's Studies in the 1970s and advocated for curricula encompassing a more inclusive body of American literature which brought together works by ethnic and gendered minorities. A recognized expert in feminist literary criticism, she was awarded The Feminist Press Award for Contributions to Women's Culture in 1988 and inducted into the Maryland Women's Hall of Fame in 1998.