Charlotte Perkins envisions a world in which there are only women in “Herland,” her 1915 novel. Van, the main character, discovers during his explorations that Herland is a society that values women and gives them access to education and the freedom to make their own decisions. She grew up when attitudes toward and status for women differed greatly from those of Herland. In the narrative, Gilman contrasts current gender norms and restrictions with gender ideology prevalent in the early 20th century. Gilman contrasts current restrictions on women’s lives with those in the early 20th century. The female-only society provides a glimpse of what a fully equal and liberated female world might resemble, in contrast to the dominant gender ideology of Gilman’s time, Herland. Gilman belittles the gender roles prevalent at the time. Examining the gender ideologies of the time and how they have changed since then is necessary to compare the status of and attitudes toward women in Gilman’s era with women’s way of life in Herland.
Gender ideology at the time of Gilman was heavily biased in favour of men. In addition to being expected to play traditional gender roles, women were considered inferior to men. Pursuing education or employment outside the home was discouraged for women, who were expected to be submissive to their husbands (Mahdi 2019). Laws were used to impose these conventional gender roles. For instance, in the United States, women were not granted the right to vote until 1920, and even then, there were restrictions in place to limit their ability to cast ballots. Part of the reasoning behind these limitations was that women lacked the emotional stability and reason to make wise political choices.
Compared to Gilman’s era, the women of Herland enjoy significantly greater freedom and respect. This is clear right away in the story when Van is taken aback to learn that the women of Herland are intelligent, employable, and capable of making their own decisions. The women of Herland are also respected and are not expected to adhere to conventional gender roles (Gilman, 1999). For instance, Van is shocked to learn that the women of Herland have forgone conventional marriage and do not have husbands. This starkly contrasts Gilman’s time, when women were expected to marry and submit to their husbands.
Herland’s first through third chapters give the reader an overview of the three male explorers and their reactions to coming across a society exclusively made up of women. Their first observation is that there isn’t any physical violence, which the narrator describes as “an atmosphere of peace, security, and well-being” (Gilman, 1999). In 1915 and today, gender-based violence is still a significant problem. A welcome departure from the highly stratified society of their own time, the men also observe the absence of any obvious class distinctions. When the men discover that women are not permitted to own property in Herland, eliminating the economic inequality pervasive in their world, the text emphasizes this lack of classism even more.
The attitude toward women’s roles is another significant distinction between Herland’s and Gilman’s societies. Gender roles or expectations do not constrain women in Herland. Instead, they are free to pursue whatever hobbies or careers they like. This stands in stark contrast to the gender ideology that prevailed during Gilman’s lifetime and which constrained women’s opportunities and confined them to the home (Mahdi 2019). In addition, there are other breadwinners in Herland besides the men, so the women are not entirely reliant on them. The idea of men providing for women was completely alien to them then.
In addition, contrary to the traditional gender roles in their society, the men note that there are no heterosexual relationships or marriages (Mahdi 2019). In Herland, women are not dependent on men for their financial well-being or company, and marriage is not considered a social necessity. This idea is radical for men who are used to seeing women as their dependents. According to the narrator, the women in Herland did not need the male sex (Gilman 1999).
Additionally, Herland’s female inhabitants have access to opportunities for employment and education that Gilman’s era’s female inhabitants did not. The women of Herland are “intelligent, well-educated, capable,” according to Van (Gilman 1999). In sharp contrast to the gender norms of Gilman’s era, where women were discouraged from pursuing education or employment outside the home, is the present-day situation. Additionally, the women of Herland are free to decide how they want to live, which was not a right for women in Gilman’s day.
In conclusion, Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s book Herland starkly contrasts the gender ideology of the era with the way of life of the women in Herland. Gilman makes clear through the narrative the limitations placed on women during her lifetime, including their lack of freedom and opportunities. On the other hand, Herland’s women are unrestricted to pursue any interests or careers they choose. Even though gender equality has come a long way since Gilman’s time, much work still needs to be done. Gilman’s book serves as a reminder of the importance of continuing the fight for women’s rights and gender equality.
References
Gilman, C. P. (1999). Herland, the yellow wallpaper, and selected writings. Penguin.
Mahdi, A. R. (2019). The Feminist Metaphorics of Herland in Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s Poetry. Al-Adab Journal, (131), 47-54. https://doi.org/10.31973/aj.v1i131.554
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