Gilman, was a strong believer in women's economic independence and was a serious critic of history and society. She attempted to create a cohesive body of thought that combined feminism and socialism, even in her fictional tales.

Herland was one of several fictional accounts written by Gilman using the same themes. She suggests the kind of world that she herself would have liked to have seen. Nearly one hundred years later, her stories still address the problems that are relevant today; they focus on children and their needs, on motherhood, and on redefining the roles of b

I also like Gilman's use of humor, particularly in the Character of "Terry" to dispel common myths about women's roles, women's characteristics, and women's stereotypical behavior. Terry refuses to believe that a civilization of women could be free of jealousy, weakness, free of feminine vanity, free of submissiveness, and dull. Van says, "we had expected pettiness, and found a social consciousness besides which our nations looked like quarreling children. We had expected jealousy and found a broad sisterly affection, a fair-minded intelligence, to which we could produce no parallel" (Herland, p. 81).

What is missing for me in this utopia is the sense of passion, and sense of adventure. Although I feel that all of these women are both strong and daring, they are so isolated in their world that it is rather dull. This would include the need for, or even idea of, sex or

since "this is a civilized country, there must be men" (Herland, p. 11). However, as these men soon find out, women have created a utopia without men at all.

Something I really liked was the fact they don't believe in worshipping past religions, or idols, "as soon as our religion grew to any height at all we left them out, of course....They knew less than we do. If we are not beyond them, we are unworthy of them -- and unworthy of the children who must go beyond us." (Herland, p. 111). This belief is perhaps the one thing that struck me as the greatest part of their civilization, it's so logical to me.

Gilman, was a strong believer in women's economic independence and was a serious critic of history and society. She attempted to create a cohesive body of thought that combined feminism and socialism, even in her fictional tales.

From this concept of society, all are able to live to their fullest potential. Without the limitations that are put on women in Charlotte Perkins Gilman's time, as well as our own, all of these women were encouraged to pursue work that they were suited to. If a child in Herland showed an aptitude for something, or enjoyed something, that skill was nourished and developed. This to me, is truly a utopian concept. As Ellador explains it, "here is a young human being. The mind is as natural a thing as the body, a thing that grows, a thing to use and enjoy. We seek to nourish, to stimulate, to exercise the mind of a child as we do the body" (Herland, p. 104).

I also don't agree with the view that all women are mothers, that this is natural and right for every woman. I don't believe that it is. I think that in my utopia this would be a free choice and motherhood would not be viewed as highly as it is here.

What is most appealing about to me about Herland is the different concept of motherliness. As the character Van explains, "it is a motherliness which dominated society,

They practiced "negative eugenics,". As Van says, "we are commonly willing to lay down our lives for our country, but they had to forego motherhood for their country- and it was precisely the hardest thing for them to do" (Herland, p. 69).

since "this is a civilized country, there must be men" (Herland, p. 11). However, as these men soon find out, women have created a utopia without men at all.

I also would consider making my utopia open to men as well as women. Although this contradicts the idea of a typical, feminist utopia, if the point of utopia is to reach your highest, fullest sense of humanity, then to exclude somebody on the basis of gender would contradict that purpose. The Herlanders viewed men and women as people, not as their sex roles. We, as feminists must do the same to reach that same level of consciousness.

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Approximate Word count = 2825
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page double spaced)