LeGuin's Left Hand Of Darkness

Feminist science fiction is a subgenre of science fiction that focuses on the examination of women's roles in society. Feminist science fiction poses questions about social issues such as how society constructs gender roles, the role reproduction plays in defining gender, and the unequal political and personal power of men and women. Feminist science fiction often illustrates these themes using utopias to explore a society in which gender differences or gender power imbalances do not exist; or dystopias to explore worlds in which gender inequalities are intensified, thus highlighting the need for feminist work to continue.^[1] According to Elyce Rae Helford: Image File history File links TheLeftHandOfDarkness1stEd. ... Image File history File links TheLeftHandOfDarkness1stEd. ... Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ... Feminism is a collection of social theories, political movements, and moral philosophies largely motivated by or concerned with the liberation of women from subordination to men. ... See Utopia (disambiguation) for other meanings of this word Utopia, in its most common and general meaning, refers to a hypothetical perfect society. ... A dystopia (or alternatively cacotopia) is a fictional society, usually portrayed as existing in a future time, when the conditions of life are extremely bad due to deprivation, oppression, or terror. ...

"Science fiction and fantasy serve as important vehicles for feminist throught, particularly as bridges between theory and practice. No other genres so actively invite representations of the ultimate goals of feminism: worlds free of sexism, worlds in which women's contributions (to science) are recognized and valued, worlds in which the diversity of women's desire and sexuality, and worlds that move beyond gender."^[2]

Literature

Women writers are often regarded as outside the mainstream of science fiction,^{[citation needed]} although Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, published in 1818, is often considered to be the first modern work of science fiction^[3] and writers such as Clare Winger Harris and Gertrude Barrows Bennett published science fiction stories in the 1920s. This may be due to a tradition of pulp science fiction (see pulp magazines) from the 1920 to the 1930s in which an exaggerated view of masculinity and sexist portrayals of women were key to the genre.^[4] In the 1960s the genre of science fiction took a different turn, combining its existing sensationalism with political and technological critique of society. With the advent of feminism, questioning women’s roles became fair game to this "subversive, mind expanding genre."^[5] Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (30 August 1797 – 1 February 1851) was an English romantic/gothic novelist, the author of Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus. ... This article is about the 1818 novel. ... Cover of the April, 1928 issue of Amazing Stories, which featured Clare Winger Harriss classic short story The Miracle of the Lily. ... Painting of Gertrude Barrows Bennett (Francis Stevens) on the cover of her short story collection The Nightmare and Other Tales of Dark Fantasy, University of Nebraska Press, 2004. ... Pulp magazines, often called simply the pulps, were inexpensive text fiction magazines widely published in the 1920s through the 1950s. ...

Two key early texts are Ursula K. Le Guin's The Left Hand of Darkness (1969) and Joanna Russ' The Female Man (1970). They serve to highlight the socially constructed nature of gender roles by creating utopias that do away with this issue by creating genderless societies.^[6] In The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood tells a dystopic tale of a society in which women are stripped of all freedom, which serves to highlight the continued importance of feminism.^[7] Octavia Butler poses complicated questions about the nature of race and gender in her book Kindred (1979). This literary form is not limited to Western feminism. The Sultana's Dream, depicting a gender-reversed purdah in an alternate and technolgically futuristic world, was published in 1905 by Bengali Muslim feminist Roquia Sakhawat Hussain. Ursula Kroeber Le Guin [] (born October 21, 1929) is an American author. ... This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. ... Joanna Russ (born February 22, 1937), American writer and feminist, is the author of a number of works of Science Fiction (among other types of writing), including The Female Man, an aclaimed SF novel and pioneering meditation on how differing societies might produce very different versions of the same person... The Female Man is a feminist science fiction novel by Joanna Russ. ... The Handmaids Tale is a dystopian novel by Canadian author Margaret Atwood, first published by McClelland and Stewart in 1985. ... Margaret Eleanor Atwood, OC (born November 18, 1939) is a Canadian writer. ... Octavia Estelle Butler (June 22, 1947 — February 24, 2006) was an American science fiction writer, one of very few African-American women in the field. ... This article is about the 1976 novel. ... Sultanas Dream is classic work of South Asian Muslim literature, written in 1905 by Rokeya Sakhawat Hussain, a Bengali Muslim novelist and social reformer. ... Ladies of Caubul (1848 lithograph, by James Rattray) showing the lifting of purdah in zenana areas. ... A symbol of Islamic feminism, incorporating the Crescent Moon and Star of Islam into the female symbol Islamic feminism is a form of feminism that aims for the full equality of all Muslims, regardless of sex or gender, in public and private life. ... Begum Rokeya Statue of Begum Roquia in Begum Rokeya Memorial Centre,Pairabondh, Rangpur Roquia Sakhawat Hussain,Bengali: (বেগম রোকেয়া), (1880-1932) was a prolific writer, feminist and social worker in the undivided Bangladesh in early 20th century. ...

Feminist science fiction is sometimes used at the university level to teach about the role of social constructs in understanding gender.^[8] More often the role of feminist science fiction is to pose questions that lead us to examine the conceptual bedrock of societal institutions such as motherhood, femininity, and the political power structure of the world we live in.

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Image File history File links Frankenstein. ... Image File history File links Frankenstein. ...

Examples in prose

• The Female Man by Joanna Russ
• The Fifth Sacred Thing by Starhawk
• The Gate to Women's Country by Sheri S. Tepper
• Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
• The Handmaid's Tale and Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
• "Houston, Houston, Do You Read?" by James Tiptree, Jr.
• Gormglaith, by Heidi Wyss
• Kindred and Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
• The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin
• Motherlines and Walk to the End of the World by Suzy McKee Charnas
• Native Tongue (1984), The Judas Rose (1987), and Earthsong (1993), by Suzette Haden Elgin
• Oy Pioneer! by Marleen S. Barr
• The Shore of Women by Pamela Sargent
• The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin
• "Sultana's Dream" by Roquia Sakhawat Hussain
• The Ship Who Searched by Mercedes Lackey

The Female Man is a feminist science fiction novel by Joanna Russ. ... Joanna Russ (born February 22, 1937), American writer and feminist, is the author of a number of works of Science Fiction (among other types of writing), including The Female Man, an aclaimed SF novel and pioneering meditation on how differing societies might produce very different versions of the same person... The Fifth Sacred Thing (ISBN 0553373803) is a post-apocalyptic novel by Starhawk written in 1993. ... For other uses, see Starhawk (disambiguation). ... The Gate to Womens Country (ISBN 0553280643) is a post-apocalyptic novel by Sheri S. Tepper written in 1988. ... Sheri Stewart Tepper (born 1929) is a prolific author of science fiction, horror and mystery novels, frequently with a feminist slant. ... Herland is a utopian novel from 1915, written by feminist Charlotte Perkins Gilman. ... Charlotte Perkins Gilman (July 3, 1860 – August 17, 1935) was a prominent American non-fiction writer, short story writer, novelist, commercial artist, lecturer, and social reformer. ... The Handmaids Tale is a dystopian novel by Canadian author Margaret Atwood, first published by McClelland and Stewart in 1985. ... Oryx and Crake is a novel with dystopian elements by Canadian author Margaret Atwood. ... Margaret Eleanor Atwood, OC (born November 18, 1939) is a Canadian writer. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... James Tiptree, Jr (August 24, 1915 – May 19, 1987) was the pen name of science fiction author Alice Sheldon. ... Gormglaith (2007) by Heidi Wyss is a hard science fiction novel set in a radical feminist separatist world of the future. ... This article is about the 1976 novel. ... Parable of the Sower is the first in a series of science fiction novels written by Octavia Butler and published in 1993. ... Octavia Estelle Butler (June 22, 1947 — February 24, 2006) was an American science fiction writer, one of very few African-American women in the field. ... This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. ... Ursula K. Le Guin at an informal bookstore Q&A session, July 2004 Ursula Kroeber Le Guin (born October 21, 1929), is an American author. ... The Motherlines is a 1978 book series by award winning American author Suzy McKee Charnas. ... The Walk to the End of the World is a 1974 book series by award winning American author Suzy McKee Charnas. ... Suzy McKee Charnas (born 1939 in New York City) is an American novelist and short story writer, writing primarily in the genres of science fiction and fantasy. ... Native Tongue is the first novel in Suzette Haden Elgins feminist science fiction series of the same name. ... Suzette Haden Elgin is an American science fiction author. ... Marleen Barr teaches communication and media studies at Fordham University, New York City. ... Pamela Sargent is a Nebula Award-winning feminist science fiction author and editor. ... For the 1975 film see The Stepford Wives (1975 film), for the 2004 remake see The Stepford Wives (2004 film). ... Ira Levin (born August 27, 1929 in New York) is an American novelist, playwright and songwriter. ... Sultanas Dream is classic work of South Asian Muslim literature, written in 1905 by Rokeya Sakhawat Hussain, a Bengali Muslim novelist and social reformer. ... Begum Rokeya Statue of Begum Roquia in Begum Rokeya Memorial Centre,Pairabondh, Rangpur Roquia Sakhawat Hussain,Bengali: (বেগম রোকেয়া), (1880-1932) was a prolific writer, feminist and social worker in the undivided Bangladesh in early 20th century. ... The Ship Who Searched is the second book in the Brainship Series written by Anne McCaffrey with Mercedes Lackey. ... Mercedes Lackey Mercedes Lackey (born June 24, 1950) (also known as Misty Lackey) is a prolific American author of fantasy novels. ...

Comic books and graphic novels

Feminist science fiction embraced the globally popular new medium of anime and graphic novels. In the early 1960s, Marvel Comics already contained some strong female characters, although they often suffered from stereotypical female weakness such as fainting after intense exertion.^[9] By the 1980s, true female heroes started to emerge on the pages of comics.^[10] The main cast of the anime Cowboy Bebop (1998) (L to R: Spike Spiegel, Jet Black, Ed Tivrusky, Faye Valentine, and Ein the dog) For the oleo-resin, see Animé (oleo-resin). ... Graphic novel (sometimes abbreviated GN) is a term for a kind of book, usually telling an extended story with sequential art ( comics). ... Marvel Comics (Stan Lee is behind many of the superheros) is an American comic book line published by Marvel Publishing, Inc. ...

One of the first appearances of a strong female character was that of Wonder Woman co-created by husband and wife team William Moulton Marston and Elizabeth Holloway Marston. In December 1941 Wonder Woman came to life on the pages of All Star Comics volume eight. The character later spawned a television series starring Lynda Carter, and played a role in animated series such as Super Friends and the Justice League. A film adaptation, Wonder Woman, is currently underway. Wonder Woman is a fictional DC Comics superheroine co-created by William Moulton Marston and wife Elizabeth Holloway Marston. ... Dr. William Moulton Marston (May 9, 1893 – May 2, 1947) was a psychologist, feminist theorist, and comic book writer who created the Wonder Woman character with his wife Elizabeth Holloway Marston. ... Elizabeth Sadie Holloway Marston (1893 - 1993) was the co-creator of the comic book character, Wonder Woman with her husband, William Moulton Marston. ... This article is about the 1940s comic book series. ... Lynda Carter at the height of her fame in the 1970s. ... The title card for the first Super Friends series. ... The Justice League, sometimes called the Justice League of America or JLA for short, is a fictional DC Universe superhero team. ... Wonder Woman is an upcoming superhero film based on the fictional DC Comics character Wonder Woman. ...

Characters such as Sailor Moon, a teenager with the ability to transform into a magical girl who battles the evil forces of the universe to protect the ones that she loves, splashed onto the page of comic book history in February 1992. This led to other positive female heroes taking shape in comic books the world over. Usagi Tsukino , or Serena in the English versions) is the protagonist of the Sailor Moon metaseries as well as its title character, best known by her pseudonym, Sailor Moon. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Sailor Moon

Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (647x841, 228 KB)Same as Sailor_Senshi. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (647x841, 228 KB)Same as Sailor_Senshi. ...

Examples of comic books and graphic novels

• Akiko by Mark Crilley
• Doom Patrol by Rachel Pollack
• Finder by Carla Speed McNeil
• Hawk and Dove by Barbara Kesel
• Meridian by Barbara Kesel
• Supergirl by Peter David
• Tank Girl by Jamie Hewlett
• Wonder Woman by William Moulton Marston and Elizabeth Holloway Marston
• Get Your Tongue out of My Mouth, I'm Kissing You Goodbye by Cynthia Heimel
• Fushigi Yuugi by Yuu Watase
• Sailor Moon by Naoko Takeuchi

Akiko is the name of a black and white American comic book series written and drawn by Mark Crilley and published by Sirius Entertainment. ... The Doom Patrol is an idiosyncratic DC Comics superhero team that has been through several incarnations. ... Rachel Pollack (born 1945) is an American science fiction author, comic book writer, and Tarot expert. ... Finder is a science fiction comic book series written and illustrated by Carla Speed McNeil, beginning in 1996. ... Carla Speed McNeil is a sci-fi writer, cartoonist, and illustrator of comics. ... Hawk and Dove are the names used by a number of DC Comics superheroes who fight crime together as duos, despite their sharply differing methods and attitudes about violence. ... Barbara Randall Kesel is a writer and editor of comic books; her bibliography includes work for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Crossgen, and Image Comics. ... Meridian was a comic book published by CrossGen Comics, and taking place on the planet Demetria, in CrossGens Sigilverse. ... Barbara Randall Kesel is a writer and editor of comic books; her bibliography includes work for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Crossgen, and Image Comics. ... For other uses, see Supergirl (disambiguation). ... Peter Allen David (often abbreviated PAD) (born September 23, 1956) is an American writer, best known for his work in comic books and Star Trek novels. ... cover art to Tank Girl: The Odyssey Tank Girl is a British comic character drawn by Jamie Hewlett, and written by Alan Martin, with later writing by Peter Milligan. ... Jamie Hewlett is joint creator of Tank Girl and a member of Gorillaz. ... Wonder Woman is a fictional DC Comics superheroine co-created by William Moulton Marston and wife Elizabeth Holloway Marston. ... Dr. William Moulton Marston (May 9, 1893 – May 2, 1947) was a psychologist, feminist theorist, and comic book writer who created the Wonder Woman character with his wife Elizabeth Holloway Marston. ... Elizabeth Sadie Holloway Marston (1893 - 1993) was the co-creator of the comic book character, Wonder Woman with her husband, William Moulton Marston. ... Fushigi Yūgi (不思議遊戯 lit. ... Yuu Watases self-portrait, including a Henohenomohe mask Yuu Watase , born March 5, 1970) in Osaka) is a Japanese shōjo manga author and artist. ... Sailor Moon , officially translated as Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon) is the title of a famous media franchise created by Japanese manga artist Naoko Takeuchi. ... Naoko Takeuchi (武内直子 Takeuchi Naoko), born March 15, 1967, is a manga artist who lives in Tokyo, Japan. ...

Film and television

Wonder Woman

Feminist science fiction in the medium of film and television, is the focus of identifying the tensions of feminism within those types of works. Film could be anything from television, to mainstream Hollywood blockbusters. The concept of feminism has not been a mainstream topic of discussion in film and television, but has been acknowledged as a subgenre of science fiction. The beginning of this came from men going off to World War II, and the women being left behind to take on the scientific roles that the men left behind. This notion of women being able to take on these roles greatly influenced the ways that film was constructed thereafter.^[11] Feminist science fiction in film and television helps to show gender roles and relationships that are portrayed. The media give way to suggestions about new ideas of thinking about social constructs and the ways that feminists influence science.^[12] These social constructions about the roles of males and females are creatively being broken down and questioned. Feminist science fiction leaves a window of opportunity to challenge the norms of society and suggest new standards of the ways societies view gender.^[13] It deconstructs the male/female categories and shows that there is a difference between female roles verses feminine roles. Feminism influences the film industry with the progression of the science fiction genre as a means for creating new ways of exploring masculinity/femininity and male/female roles.^[14] Image File history File links WonderWomanV5. ... Image File history File links WonderWomanV5. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

Some examples of feminist science fiction in film and television

• Wonder Woman (television series)
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer (television series)
• Xena: Warrior Princess (television series)
• The Handmaid's Tale (1990)
• The Stepford Wives (1975)

Wonder Woman is a fictional DC Comics superheroine co-created by William Moulton Marston and wife Elizabeth Holloway Marston. ... Buffy the Vampire Slayer is an American cult television series that aired from March 10, 1997 until May 20, 2003. ... Xena. ... The Handmaids Tale is a dystopian novel by Canadian author Margaret Atwood, first published by McClelland and Stewart in 1985. ... For the 1975 film see The Stepford Wives (1975 film), for the 2004 remake see The Stepford Wives (2004 film). ...

Podcasts

Podcasts are one of the newest ways that science fiction is currently being explored. New writers are using podcasts to produce more material and expand the boundary of the genre. An orange square with waves indicates that an RSS feed is present on a webpage. ...

Examples of podcasts

• The Secret World Chronicle
• Variant Frequencies
• Escape Pod
• Geek Fu Action Grip

Notes

June 22 is the 173rd day of the year (174th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 192 days remaining. ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... February 24 is the 55th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... May 19 is the 139th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (140th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... February 1 is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ...

External links

• Feminist Science Fiction
• The Secret World Chronicle
• Variant Frequencies
• Escape Pod
• Geek Fu Action Grip
• Pink Raygun - news, reviews and interviews for fangirls...and boys.

See also

• WisCon
• Gender in science fiction
• James Tiptree, Jr. Award
• Women in science fiction
• Women's writing in English