Feminism In Herland
In the late 19th and 20th century, there were two definitions of feminism. One definition of feminism was that women were the same as men, and deserved civil rights accordingly. The other definition of feminism is that women are different than men, and in some cases, superior; and thus, deserved civil rights. In Herland, by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, she reflected on these perspectives and untimely chose the perspective that women are the same as men, and from her novel, teaches us that women are barred from reaching their true potential by early 20th century society.
The late 19th century was the start of formal coalitions of women’s rights: filled with protests and organizations for women’s suffrage and heterosexual marriage equality. Multiple …show more content…
In the beginning of the novel, the three men all come in with the assumption that women are inferior to men. They believe that “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.” (35) The three men stumbled upon this society and it changed some of their views, but not all. Jeff and Van learned to understand and appreciate women more, because they have seen what they are capable of. However, Terry is still stuck in his ways and believe that women are still inferior. These women in Herland are extraordinary, and they challenge all of society’s stereotypes of sex, motherhood, work and beauty. Stereotypes of not being “reasonable or “a woman and man have different lifestyles; a woman gets a husband and is done, whereas a man strives and keeps striving (86).” Gilman, characterizes these women as doing things men can do and doing jobs only men could have in late 19th century America. In a sense, Gilman puts women on the same level as men, and when putting women on the same level as men, the differences between the two genders and their capabilities are taken out; the group of people seen are people. Thus, not being different after all, than men, should entitle women the same rights as men because there is no difference between them, they are people and they deserved equal
The late 19th century was the start of formal coalitions of women’s rights: filled with protests and organizations for women’s suffrage and heterosexual marriage equality. Multiple …show more content…
In the beginning of the novel, the three men all come in with the assumption that women are inferior to men. They believe that “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.” (35) The three men stumbled upon this society and it changed some of their views, but not all. Jeff and Van learned to understand and appreciate women more, because they have seen what they are capable of. However, Terry is still stuck in his ways and believe that women are still inferior. These women in Herland are extraordinary, and they challenge all of society’s stereotypes of sex, motherhood, work and beauty. Stereotypes of not being “reasonable or “a woman and man have different lifestyles; a woman gets a husband and is done, whereas a man strives and keeps striving (86).” Gilman, characterizes these women as doing things men can do and doing jobs only men could have in late 19th century America. In a sense, Gilman puts women on the same level as men, and when putting women on the same level as men, the differences between the two genders and their capabilities are taken out; the group of people seen are people. Thus, not being different after all, than men, should entitle women the same rights as men because there is no difference between them, they are people and they deserved equal