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For class this week, we are reading Ursula K. Le Guin's The Dispossessed, a novel first published in 1974. It is subtitled "An Ambiguous Utopia" and contains many incredibly deep philosophical themes and socio-political critique. It's been years since I last read it, and I had completely forgotten how prominent the theme of societally defined gender roles really is in this book.
Here's an excerpt of a conversation between Shevek, a visitor from another nation/world to the land of A-Io, and Vea, an A-Io woman.
"I want to know, is an Urrasti women content to be always inferior?"
"Inferior to whom?"
"To men."
"Oh--that! What makes you think I am?"
"It seems everything in your society is done by men...And all your life you bear your father's name and the husband's name. The men go to school and you don't go to school; they are all the teachers, judges, and police and government, aren't they? Why do you let them control everything? Why don't you do what you like?"
"But we do. Women do exactly as they like. And they don't have to get their hands dirty, or wear brass helmets, or stand about shouting in the Directorate, to do it."
"But what is it that you do?"
"Why, run the men, of course! And you know, it's perfectly safe to tell them that, because they never believe it. They saw, 'Haw haw haw, funny little woman!' and pat your head and stalk off with their medals jingling, perfectly self-content."
"And you too are self-content?"
"Indeed I am."
"I don't believe it...because I can see that you are not content. That you are restless, unsatisfied, dangerous."
"Dangerous!" Vea laughed radiantly. "What an utterly marvelous compliment! Why am I dangerous, Shevek?"
"Why, because you know that in the eyes of men you are a thing, a thing owned, bought , sold. And so you think only of tricking the owners, of getting revenge--"
"Hush. I know you don't intend to be vulgar. I forgive you. But that's quite enough...How can you understand, coming from the moon? I'll tell you something. If you took one of your 'sisters' and gave her the chance t take off her boots, and have a bath and a depilation, and put on a pretty pair of sandals and a belly jewel and perfume, she'd love it. And you'd love it too!"
Comments?
:::posted by Jennifer on 4/14/2007 10:30:00 AM
The Thousandth Women
Kipling's poem "The Thousandth Man" rephrases Solomon's dour and somewhat mysogynistic insights as a treatise on the rarity of true, deep friendship.
Yet in Jesus' mortal life, those who were most loyal to Him were women.
They kept their distance in respect for His naked shame, but they stayed with him at the cross.
They kept vigil at the tomb.
They went to the tomb early in the morning after Sabbath, with the specific intention of anointing His body.
They were the first witnesses with the newborn gospel of the empty tomb.
They joined in constant prayer after His ascension.
They truly followed Him "to the gallows-foot, and after!"
We of the male persuasion could learn a lot from their fealty.
On this day we celebrate His rising, we could stand to rise to their example.
:::posted by Keith Brenton on 4/08/2007 09:53:00 AM
You might have heard that Cahaba Valley Church is searching for a new minister. This is the summary that was sent to me via Emily J. Rushing:
Senior pastor and teaching/preaching minister at Cahaba Valley Church in Birmingham, Alabama. Small congregation, founded in 1973 to live out freedom in Christ and follow God's will, in faith, by grace. Suburban location, diverse membership, including inner-city. Resume due May 7. Position available mid-June 2007. Job description and details at here.
:::posted by jch on 4/06/2007 12:17:00 PM
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