Social Gender vs Biological Gender in HERLAND by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

People believe that each gender has their own roles. According to society, women should do the household chores, give birth, and look after their babies and husbands. On the other hand, men should be tough, competitive, dominant and only masculine. Although naturally we were not born like this and biologically, there are no rules about how to be a man or woman. There are only physical differences. Nature has given us sexual differences: being male or female. All the other things have been constructed by societies. Throughout the years, people have witnessed some changes. these changes made them believe in such norms that are probably built by authorities to keep them in a system. Environmental and biological evolution may have forced people to exchange such chores. They had to move and started to live on different sides of the world. Living in different or harsh geographical places humans began to believe in some norms. As the world was explored, human beings spread all over it. they established new living systems such as colonies. They constructed new roles and duties for themselves. Finally, wars changed the course of history. 

We read this novel with all the ideas, norms and socially constructed roles in our minds that I have mentioned above. However, in Herland, there are no social gender roles in fact even biological roles have evolved. Our protagonist has prejudices like us. He faces situations that are unlike the world that we live in. There is a reversed life in Herland. The concepts of humanism, motherhood and gender roles have distinct meanings for the women in this land.

First of all, women live hand in hand with nature. They are aware of the importance of ecology. That is why they don't see themselves as superior creatures like men do. They treat nature and each other as all we are supposed to do. These behaviours surprise male visitors as they see order rather than chaos in Herland. Male visitors expect them to envy each other but the sisterhood bond between Herlanders is inseparable. The so-called "humanism" in the patriarchal world actually works in Herland because they reject all superior behaviours of the visitor and remind them to act equal to themselves. There is no difference between men and women according to the Herlanders.

The other distinguished concept which separates our world and Herland is motherhood. In our world motherhood is a socially required element for women. A woman has to be a mother at some point in her life. Whereas, women have the holy belief of having children in Herland. Unlike the real world, they can create babies on their own. This is a miracle for them. They constructed their society upon this idea They get pregnant when they feel ready. Every woman is allowed to be a mother once in her life but it is not an obligation.  It is such a creativity for both their nation and their lives since they believe this is a gift from God, a sacred mother. This also shocks and makes our characters feel inferior. 

Moreover, they have no concept of gender roles.  They do not look like feminine or masculine as our characters pictured them in their minds. To exemplify, Ellador is an ideal woman without seeming in any way masculinized or unwomanly. She has human potential. Alima is strong and never agrees to an unequal relationship with a man. Celis is puzzled by Jeff's courtly assistance in treating her as if she were weaker than she actually is. All women know their potential and capabilities so male visitors' opinions about patriarchal norms astonished them. Male characters assume that women are inferior creatures yet Herlanders do not know domestic concepts in their world. That is why women act normal in their own way. 

We see an upside-down perspective in the novel. It makes us question our reality. Are we really living in an equal world?  Have we been constructed as men and women by society?  Does making a household chore make a person a man or a woman? Is it normal or do we think it is a norm?  While I was reading this novel I always heard my professor's words inside my head. Women are not given gender roles biologically. Those roles are given socially. They unfortunately became part of our lives These beliefs and assumptions are created by various events throughout the humans' lives. They also shaped such schemas in our minds. We can only see the other side of this picture by looking from different perspectives. Gilman's contrast between the way we live and her characters do makes you wonder too

I hope you enjoy or enjoyed the book!