* Women: This has been a major shift, with works by authors like Toni Morrison, Margaret Atwood, Virginia Woolf, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie gaining greater prominence.
* People of Color: Authors like James Baldwin, Maya Angelou, Chinua Achebe, and Gabriel García Márquez have become staples in the canon, representing diverse experiences and perspectives.
* LGBTQ+ Writers: Works by authors like Oscar Wilde, James Baldwin, and Audre Lorde are now widely studied and recognized.
* Writers from marginalized communities: This includes authors writing about disability, poverty, and other social injustices, broadening the range of perspectives included in the canon.
* Authors from non-European countries: Writers like Gabriel García Márquez (Latin America), Chinua Achebe (Africa), and Haruki Murakami (Japan) have challenged the Eurocentric dominance of the traditional canon.
This expansion of the canon is ongoing, reflecting a growing awareness of the need for greater diversity and representation in literature. While the traditional canon remains influential, these new voices are enriching our understanding of the human experience and redefining what constitutes "Western literature."