Friendship, Hope and Communication During Second-Wave and Postfeminism: Gillian E. Hanscombe's Between Friends and Sally Rooney's Conversations with Friends

This paper examines the intersections of friendship, hope, and communication within two distinct feminist contexts: Gillian E. Hanscombe’s Between Friends (1982) [1] and Sally Rooney’s Conversations with Friends (2017) [2]. While Hanscombe’s epistolary narrative reflects the fervent debates of Anglo-American second-wave feminism—particularly around separatism, sexuality, and utopian politics—Rooney’s novel highlights the fragmented, ironic, and often sceptical modes of interaction characteristic of postfeminist subjectivity shaped by neoliberal capitalism. By contrasting Hanscombe’s optimistic belief in communal transformation with Rooney’s portrayal of alienated intimacy, the paper situates both texts within their respective historical and political climates. The analysis suggests that although the modes of communication differ—letters versus digital exchanges—both novels reveal the enduring significance of hope, solidarity, and friendship as essential dimensions of feminist identity. Ultimately, this study underscores how shifting feminist sensibilities reshape not only literary representation but also the possibilities of human connection in times of ideological transition.