Women with Men

From the start of the 19th century, women in America (as well as all over the world) have struggled with their status in society in comparison to men. The issue of women's rights still exists today on a different scale through new and fitting issues. Women are often seen as inferior, which leads the opposite sex to treat them either with carelessness, unfairness, or as if they are dainty and breakable. Most prominently seen during the second great awakening, the women's suffrage movement, and again in the 1980s and 1990s, women have spoken out about the rights they believe they deserve. in most cases the rights women wish for are already available for men. For whatever reason, society and unfortunately males seem to think that women want to be treated differently for reasons such as maternity, protection, or in order to be more presentable as a lady. Women in the early 20th century would be scoffed at if they chose to act like a man or present any "male" qualities. Gender and sexuality norms were extremely common during that period, as they are today for different reasons, and any time those normalcies were pushed or stretched society would freak out. 

In Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, the three men who arrive in a land populated solely by females find themselves appalled due to their being accustomed to such normalcies, since they were traveling from America themselves. For different reasons, depending on personality, each man in the story finds himself treating the strong, confident, intelligent, and capable women around them the way they would a women at home in America. The only problem is that in a land where a male presence is unknown and no gender norms exist, the women refuse to receive such treatment and indirectly treat the men that women do not need to be treated differently for any reasons. 

Terry, the most self-centered and cocky of the three men, presents the stereotypical yet truthful type of male who simply believes himself to be superior to the female due to his brutish strength and her daintiness. His treatment of Alima with such qualities leads to countless problems. Jeff, who most often has good intentions presents the type of male who unconsciously insults women by worrying over them and trying to protect them. Jeff tells Celis that she should not carry a light and simple basket because a lady shouldn't have to, a man would rather do it for her. Though the reasoning seems polite and kind, Celis explains that women are proud of their abilities and do not need men to enhance them in any way. Therefore through the difficulties in interactions between the male and female characters of Herland, Gilman gives her explanation for women's want for equality throughout history.