Gilman's Use of Masculine and Feminine Traits in Herland.
Throughout the story, Gilman shows the ideas of masculine and feminine traits in the early 1900's. The all women civilization she creates in the story certainly shows the effects of the early 1900's society has on masculine and feminine traits. Her interpretations of society brings allot to question. The most emphasized is that how both men and women are looked at in her created society and of 1915's society. Some of the traits that Gilman shows have gradually progressed since her time.
Herland reflects on the conception of society's idea of masculinity and femininity in 1915. During Gilman's time in the United States, it was an on going epic of constant gain for woman's rights. She had used her idea of the equilibrium between masculine and feminine traits. She did this by taking away both of the traits, making sure that everyone would be equal. She had thought that by only having women in Herland and taking the sex appeal away from society. These women have no clue of trying to impress the other sex . Nor do they have any clue of what women of that time were thought to do. In the article Sex Before Gender by Bernice Habusman explains it all. She discusses that when the men come to Herland they believe in the very feminine nature that Gilman finds so destructive. This is extremely true. The three men are shocked by their none feminine nature. Habusman goes on to explain that the men believe that they can make the women express the feminine traits that the women express in their society. Here I think that Gilman is trying to show that men have a tendency to take control over women. What they have to realize is that it has been two thousand years since these women have not been familure with sex in general as with dealing with men .
I do agree with some of the ideas of masculine and feminine traits of the early 1900's.