Mofe Adeosun When It Changed – Joana Russ
“When it changed,’’ is a story about a society of women living on the planet Whileaway, different from planet Earth. A plague wiped out half of the population, including all of the men. Fortunately, for the society, the population that survived was a group of the most intelligent women, who through a scientific breakthrough were able to have children. They are optimistic about their future and aim to thrive at their own pace. Their society is one in which women of all strengths, talents and abilities have come to live peacefully and at ease with one another, without being looked down on as subordinate to another person. The men’s arrival from Earth was an …show more content…
It has been the absence of men predominating in authority which has enabled them to heal, relearn and rebuild their society without the need of a gender status quo. Gender roles are assigned by the men, and given to women they know nothing about. They assumed Katy is the ‘Woman’ in their relationship as she is deemed more attractive. This causes fear in the Whileaway society as the women fear they would become second class citizens in a patriarchy where gender roles would be re-established. In this near future, women would be made to accept their role as caregivers and a means of sexual reproduction. The men make use of the word “Use” repeatedly to show how they really feel towards the dehumanization of women as a commodity and not as equals. However, the women on Whileaway can be aggressive, brave, fierce and strong at the same time. These qualities are not for one sex; it can be shared by both. Whileaway women also possess the feminine abilities to be emotional, cooperative and a childrearer when the need arises. Here the matrilineal society is dual natured in gender roles. This kind of society is natural, not one where there is a battle of the …show more content…
The men spoke of “sexual equality that has been re-established on earth” (481). Their actions, oppressive mannerisms and their language speak of a society where inequality prevails. They perceived the Whileaway women as beings attracted to men, oblivious to their need to find sexual satisfaction through a male partner. This perception of females goes against the notions of equality and reinforces the construction of sexual roles in place by men. This terrifies Janet as it is a tool in which men have practice using for their own
“When it changed,’’ is a story about a society of women living on the planet Whileaway, different from planet Earth. A plague wiped out half of the population, including all of the men. Fortunately, for the society, the population that survived was a group of the most intelligent women, who through a scientific breakthrough were able to have children. They are optimistic about their future and aim to thrive at their own pace. Their society is one in which women of all strengths, talents and abilities have come to live peacefully and at ease with one another, without being looked down on as subordinate to another person. The men’s arrival from Earth was an …show more content…
It has been the absence of men predominating in authority which has enabled them to heal, relearn and rebuild their society without the need of a gender status quo. Gender roles are assigned by the men, and given to women they know nothing about. They assumed Katy is the ‘Woman’ in their relationship as she is deemed more attractive. This causes fear in the Whileaway society as the women fear they would become second class citizens in a patriarchy where gender roles would be re-established. In this near future, women would be made to accept their role as caregivers and a means of sexual reproduction. The men make use of the word “Use” repeatedly to show how they really feel towards the dehumanization of women as a commodity and not as equals. However, the women on Whileaway can be aggressive, brave, fierce and strong at the same time. These qualities are not for one sex; it can be shared by both. Whileaway women also possess the feminine abilities to be emotional, cooperative and a childrearer when the need arises. Here the matrilineal society is dual natured in gender roles. This kind of society is natural, not one where there is a battle of the …show more content…
The men spoke of “sexual equality that has been re-established on earth” (481). Their actions, oppressive mannerisms and their language speak of a society where inequality prevails. They perceived the Whileaway women as beings attracted to men, oblivious to their need to find sexual satisfaction through a male partner. This perception of females goes against the notions of equality and reinforces the construction of sexual roles in place by men. This terrifies Janet as it is a tool in which men have practice using for their own