Landan Rivers: Blog Option 5

In Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Van, Jeff, and Terry learn about a supposed land filled with only women. Initially, they believe that the story cannot possibly be true, that men must be hiding away somewhere. While they want to wave off the idea as a legend, ultimately human nature drives their curiosity to find out if a land of women could truly exist. Throughout their travels they hypothesize what the land will be like, coming to the conclusion that if a land of women does exist, it would be unsuccessfully run and filled with drama, unkempt land and infrastructure, and little to no education. What they find, however, is impeccably kept towns, knowledgeable women, and a societal system that strives to bring out the best in every woman.

In all, Gilman juxtaposes the idea of the American woman – and thus the idea of what a woman should be like according to Van, Jeff, and Terry – and places her against the successful, loving, hard-working, knowledgeable, and open women of Herland. Gilman conveys the idea that women are capable of being much more than homemakers and depending on men throughout their lives. This idea is successful because she didn’t use American women, but rather chose to create a utopian society that impressed the “sensible” Americans who believed that nothing could compare – much less beat – American society.  This idea is incredibly important because is challenges every ideal and expectation that is placed on women, showing them that they can go so much farther than what is often believed.

The infographic before showcases just one of the many ways women are disadvantaged in American society. I'm willing to bet that the women of Herland would be horrified to know these statistics.

In chapter 12, Van states that, “When we say men, man, manly, manhood, and all the other masculine-derivatives, we have in the background of our minds a huge vague crowded picture of the world and all its activities. . . . And when we say women, we think female—the sex. But to these women . . . the word woman called up all that big background, so far as they had gone in social development; and the word man meant to them only male—the sex.”

            The scary thing about the quote is that American society has women integrated into everyday life, and yet we still think of them as the sex, not of what they are capable of. It is logical for Herland women to see male as the sex, as men have have absolutely no contribution to the society because they don’t exist in it. As a society, we shouldn’t allow men and women to be separated so severely, but rather fight towards an equality where we can be on the same level and contribute to society equally.

            I personally give Herland a rating of 5 because of the issues that are brought up. Herland doesn’t just showcase the inequities, but rather proves how silly they are. While the logistics of Herland may be impossible, then men are opened up to the idea of a land where women are in control, in charge, and are fully successful. It shows that women are capable of being mothers and caretakers, but also workers and leaders. In all, Herland shows the strength of women by juxtaposing them on the perceived weakness of women when their strengths are subdued so men can be in a position of power.