The part of Machessault's article that I found really interesting was the fact that even though it is true that the concept introduced of the "murder" of author as caused by women assuming the role of author represents a further expression of patriarchal oppression, it also works as a means of empowerment.

Clearly, if what Marchessault says is true, the women who are authors are powerless... the very fact that their ideas are considered so diffuse and lacking in authority that their presence in the role of "author" destroys the validity of the author as an exalted persona. Nonetheless, this continuation of the denial of power to women as a whole ironically allows for the playing field between the genders to be evened somewhat, as men authors are also denied the power of an exalted author persona once the author is "killed".