Should Herland Be Considered A Feminist Utopia - 1945 Words

Should Herland be considered a true feminist utopia, as popularly claimed? Some critics say yes, since the female citizens of Herland are depicted as strong independent women who educate the three male visitors to Herland about their peaceful history, unstructured government, and unconventional ideas to the point where the men begin to evaluate the conditions of women in America. Other critics say no, since these strong independent women are composed of only one group of women- the demographic of white, educated, upper class women. To these critics, the biases and exclusion of all other women from the novel does not make it a feminist utopia. Considering the prejudices of the time period in which Gilman’s Herland was written, the novella would be considered a feminist utopia back then. However, by today’s standards the novella would not, as the present feminist movement is more accepting and tolerant of different attitudes and women of other races, classes and sexual or ientations than its historical predecessor. While the novella is part of a movement considered radical during its day due to its demands for women’s suffrage and equality, the attitudes of the feminist movement were more conservative than one would think. Part of this conservatism was from the Social Purity Movement, a movement aligned with feminism. Laura Hapke notes that this is â€Å"because Social Purists believed in women’s need to resist sexual subjection by men. Considering how Charlotte Perkins Gilman wasShow MoreRelated Feminism in Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and When It Changed by Joanna Russ969 Words   |  4 PagesFeminism in Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and When It Changed by Joanna Russ During the long history of science fiction, one of the most common themes is the utopia. Many feminists used utopia to convey their ideas. Two of these stories, Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and When It Changed by Joanna Russ portray feminist utopias in different ways. Herland shows a society lacking men, and makes this seem positive, while When It Changed shows an all-female society that mirrors a worldRead MoreOn Feminism and ‘the Yellow Wallpaper’ by Charlotte Gilman1876 Words   |  8 Pagesthat women have the same human, political and social rights as men, furthermore, that women should have the same opportunities as men in their personal choices regarding careers, politics and expression. A feminist text states the author’s agenda for women in society as they relate to oppression by a patriarchal power structure and the subsequent formation of social ‘standards’ and ‘protocols’. A feminist text will be written by a woman, and it will point out deficiencies in society regarding equalRead MoreThe Yellow Wallpaper By Charlotte Perkins Gilman1982 Words   |  8 Pageshis work at the hospital. Gilman successfully illustrates how society suppresses women and how dangerous it can be to a women’s mental health. American writer, and lecturer, an early theorist of the feminist movement, Charlotte Perkins Gilman refused to call herself a â€Å"feminist†. Gilman would be referred to as a â€Å"humanist.† Gilman fought for equality amongst all people. Amazingly, Gilman wrote over two hundred short stories and ten novels. Her main goal was the cause of women’s suffrage