Outline left hand of darkness comp II

Malana Smith

Comp II

Outline 2

10-16-13

Thesis: The Left hand of Darkness is not a piece of feminist literature.

-Definition of Feminism: the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities -Webster dictionary 

-Definition of feminist literature: fiction or nonfiction which supports the feminist goals of defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights for women.

-Definition of Gender Theory: Gender studies is a field of interdisciplinary study and academic field devoted to gender identity and gendered representation as central categories of analysis. This field includes women's studies (concerning women, feminism, gender, and politics), men's studies, and LGBT studies.

-Why most believe that LHD is feminist literature:

·         It takes the gender apsect out of the social equation.

o   makes gender discrimination impossible

·         Abstract way to get readers out of the normal way of thinking about roles in society. 

·         Shows that a society can still be balanced if there are not specialized gender roles.

-Why it is not feminist literature:

·         Not enough perspective of female Gethenians

n  There was no type of situations that would evoke a reaction from the reader that was seen as an injustice due to a discrimination of gender. 

·         No type of activism or struggle for equality except for Genly Ai's humanity in comparison to the alien Gethenians

·         Though Guin takes gender out of the equation, it does not make it feminist literature, but rather gender theory in general. 

n  Addresses the idea that to be only male or female is looked down upon, not to be a woman by itself because a woman may be seen as inferior to the male, ect.

·         The plot of the book leads the reader to believe the lack of gender is due to the adaption to the climate in order to survive.

n  Lack of sexual orientation is not by choice.

n  Even without gender, societal dynamics are still the same:

§  Hunger for power, deceit, discrimination of class or differences in beliefs

§  seems as though the novel is really just about a whole bunch of males who become female for a short amount of time to procreate and further their species.

n  The characters are too easy seen as masculine

§  Not enough feminine characteristics expressed to show they are also part female.

·         May even be seen as an insult to feminist readers because even in a novel that is without gender, masculine characteristics  are still dominant, especially in a rough environment.

n  Guin even admits that she was unable to include everything she should have to bring the other gender perspective out. 

-How could have Guin made it more feminist? 

§  Exemplified more feminine gender roles within characters

§  Possibly written it from a female's point of view

§  Changed the climate and recorded the possible reactions of the asexual society.

-Where the real feminism took place: within Guin's life and future books:

§  --she realized she did not have to write like an honorable man in order to be respected.

§  --began to use more female characters in later novels.

Resources: 

-The Left Hand of Darkness
-swarthmore.edu interview of Guin
-websters dictionary