Gender

Gender's role in fiction reflects this type of real-world problem. For this week, I'd like you to take a story from either this week or last week and think about it in terms of gender and the complexities that arise due to the way in which our genetic code is not necessarily the same as our behavior.

In "When it Changed" by Joanna Russ, the society on the planet Whileaway is completely made up of women. When men come back to the planet, inviting the women to come back to the newly "gender equal" earth, the women are offended and refuse. They grew up in a place where men had not been present for thirty generations, therefore they are completely sufficient without men, and partake in activities that are traditionally divided between men and women by gender roles. With regard to certain physical capabilities, women and men can do the same ordinary tasks equally. The men were baffled and disagreed with their lifestyles, simply because it was not the way they were conditioned to believe women should behave in life. The men wanted to be "manly" but so did the women, however, the women thought that the very concept of a "manly role" existing was wrong. I just think it is crazy that gender roles are so prevalent and normal in societies all over the world, to the point where we do not even notice them. It is only when I read stories like this, or a feminist article, that I realize how influenced I am by my environment. I do not tend to have any strong views on feminism or the like, but I do think individuals should be able to do whatever they want and act however they want without being discriminated against or pointed out. Unfortunately gender roles are so pressed on society and ingrained in who we are, when someone is acting out of their role it is hard to not see them as weird and/or more masculine or feminine. Not only that, but we have a tendency to think something just is not “right” with that individual. It is all very bizarre to me and makes me think about how we are all brainwashed to a certain point from birth (haha).

On a side note, really liked the way Simone de Beauvoir spoke on the subject as “the Other” in The Second Sex. It was a new point of view to me and I actually agree with a lot of it. I think most women do view themselves as “the other” without even realizing it, when in reality we are all created equal. These past few stories have been VERY interesting and mind-bending for me.