Janie could be seen as a feminist character or a character admired by feminist readers and critics, because by the end of the novel, she is confident and independent, comfortable in her own skin, and looking forward to living her life according to her own desires.
Janie could be considered a flawed feminist character, though, because of her early focus on romance and marriage. She seems to think of marriage and romantic love as her main goal in life. Many feminists would see this as reductive and would hope a feminist character would have more varied aims.
Janie is the victim of domestic abuse in two of her three marriages. This is a detail that feminist critics could seize on to show the inequality of the genders within marriage and the oppression of women. This could win Janie sympathy from feminist readers. However, readers might also want Janie to stand up for herself more, to fight back against Joe and later against Tea Cake. Ultimately, Janie kills Tea Cake while defending herself, so you could argue that she gains her true independence through that action, though she did love Tea Cake and partly kills him out of a sense of that love (he had rabies and was no longer himself).
In writing an essay on this topic, you should make an argument that identifies specific reasons Janie is a feminist but also admits to the specific flaws that might complicate the definition. As you build your argument in the body of the paper, cite examples from throughout Janie's life, as her character develops over the course of the novel. I'd probably start with her musing under the pear tree at the start of chapter three, as this sets up Janie's goals and expectations for her adult life. Then, you should cite examples from each of Janie's marriages showing how she is oppressed by her husbands and how she reacts. It's important to point out the last chapter of the novel, when Janie returns to Eatonville, and discuss how she has changed and how confident and hopeful she is, on her own, without a husband.
The main issue you will need to resolve before writing this paper is your definition of feminism. Evaluating someone as a "feminist" means having some clear sense of what does or does not constitute a feminist, something complicated by the fact that there are many different forms of feminism, and many different feminist scholars have written about Hurston and propounded a wide range of opinions about this novel. This answer will help you address what you need to cover in each section of your paper.
Introduction: In your introduction, you should address the history and definition of feminism. You should mention that feminism is normally divided into three "waves": a first one beginning in the mid-nineteenth century concerned with issues such as property rights and suffrage, a second wave beginning in the twentieth century focused on the interdependence of political and cultural inequality, and a third wave focused on a reconception of gender. In terms of period, Their Eyes Were Watching God would have been written during the era of first-wave feminism.
Narrative: Janie Crawford, the protagonist of the novel, has been married three times. Her first marriage is to Logan Killicks, who exploits her badly. Her second is to Joe Starks, who is wealthy and successful but leaves her unfulfilled and uncomfortable with the traditional role of wife. The third marriage, to Tea Cake, is more deeply emotionally satisfying for her but to an external observer is problematic especially in the way that Tea Cake also attempts to assert a dominance over her. The ending of the book shows her becoming independent after Tea Cake's death. You might illustrate these points by recounting specific episodes such as Logan's insistence that Janie chop wood and feed mules, Starks's discomfort with Janie socializing as an equal with men, and Tea Cake's dishonesty about the $200 framed as protectiveness.
Feminism: Janie's situation and Leafy's rape are examples of issues many feminists would argue exemplify different facets of patriarchy, and the characters in the book, especially Nanny and Janie, are concerned with how women can live in ways that are both safe and fulfilling in a world dominated by men. On the other hand, there is no overarching critique of patriarchy as such—rather, there is a concern with the lives of individual women, as this is a novel rather than a political tract. While one could argue that Janie has weaknesses as a character (especially in letting her desire override more practical judgment), there is some question as to whether that would be a subject of feminist critique. She is not portrayed as a well-educated woman involved in supporting or undermining a political cause but simply as a woman living in a particular place and time and trying to work out major life choices. Your conclusion should focus on whether you think Janie's final independence is an example of a feminist awareness or whether it is simply the personal choice of Janie as a character.
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