“Have-it-all” in Wendy Wasserstein’s Plays: The Heidi Chronicles and An American Daughter

This study examines the concept of "Have-it all” in Wendy Wasserstein's plays The Heidi Chronicles and An American Daughter. The plays came when Second-wave feminists were on the defensive depicting that women could not multitask to fill gaps existing in their marriage, career, and motherhood. The protagonists of the selected plays gave voice to the gender diaspora that was culminated by oppressive patriarchal structures. The two heroines represent the Liberal and Radical feminists who portray the Woman diaspora and work to challenge a healthy work-life balance while maintaining their own families. Most women want to “have it all” despite the strictness of sociopolitical and gender biases. “Have-it-all” is examined in the selected plays as the core of the feminist diaspora. Wasserstein's plays celebrate woman’s survival amidst modernized social, political, and gender biases. The study explores the heroines’ journey of feminist survival to challenge such biases to “Have-it-all” and also celebrate the strength of their feminist empowerment.