Gender Autofiction as “Non-Fiction”: A Paradox?

Abstract

This text aims to explore the concept of autofiction as a form of non-fiction, challenging the definitions traditionally assigned to each of these genres. It argues that differentiating and opposing writing methods tied to declared aesthetic and/or cognitive fields proves unproductive. Autofiction revolves around an “I” that may appear singular but is, by nature, plural, according to Jean-Luc Nancy. This “I” increasingly distances itself from the narcissism initially attributed to it, shifting instead toward an inclusive “we.” The article examines three contemporary female writers as examples. Chloé Delaume embraces the label of autofiction for her literary work, while Annie Ernaux rejects it, presenting herself instead as an autosociobiographer. Christine Angot, for her part, associates the term “fiction” with entirely invented characters, which contradicts the message of truth she proclaims. Regardless of their self-designations, all three focus on writing about their lived experiences, breaking societal taboos. Their personal narratives serve as political tools. Their writings echo human suffering and are rooted in an identifiable social context, representing a form of self-writing as a mirror of the other. Thus, the article advocates for dissolving the genre boundaries between autofiction and non-fiction. For, if all writing “fictionalizes”, the real is obviously present in the intimate testimony conveyed in the first person within autofiction. This “I”, considered to be literary, now extends into disciplines traditionally classified as scientific. The article concludes by highlighting the convergence of writing modes and the shifting definitions of genre.