The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin embodies the “second-wave” feminist movement of the 1970’s known as the Women’s Liberation Movement. Anarres embodied the ideals of the Women’s Liberation Movement while Urras embodies the exact opposite of the movement’s ideals.
Odonian society borrows heavily from Women’s Liberation Movement. A major aspect that reflects the feminist movement is jobs on Anarres. Jobs on Anarres reflect six second-wave feminist ideals:
“0 Men and women should not be stereotyped by their gender roles. 4. Jobs should be done by whoever can do them, and gender is largely irrelevant to this. 5. Women should have equal access to jobs with men. 6. Marriage and motherhood should not prevent women from having careers any more than it prevents men from doing so. 7. Women should be able to pursue their careers without having where they live determined entirely by their husbands' jobs. 18. Childbirth is a natural phenomenon, not a disease. Women should be able to return to work shortly after giving birth.” (wsu.edu)
Odonian jobs are cataloged and assigned in Divlab. Divlab does not stereotype by gender and assigns jobs based on personal ability or the needs of the community. All citizens have equal access to Divlab and are free to decline postings that they do not want to do. There is no marriage on Anarres so marriage does not affect Divlab’s decisions. When someone is partnered they can request a posting near their partner but this does not affect Divlab’s choices. Children are raised with other children in a domicile. Neither parent is forced to raise their child, but they do have the option. Parents can also send their child to a nursery for care while they work. This effectively removes the deterrence that motherhood can bring to a woman’s career. Divlab assigns postings based the community’s needs. As mentioned earlier a couple can request postings that are near each other but Divlab does not make decisions on job location based on partnerships. This eliminates the influence that a man’s job location has on a woman’s career.
Other aspects of Odonian society are also heavily influenced by the feminist movement. The language used on Anarres was created from scratch once Anarres was settled: “ 9.Language oppresses women: terms associated with them often create a presumption of passivity and weakness. New ways of using language to make men and women more equal are needed (wsu.edu).” Creating a new language helped to remove the notion that men are superior to women. Instead of trying to remove portions of the language that oppressed women, an entirely new language was created. One of the most important factors in Odonian society is one’s relationship with the community. To be an outcast is the ultimate humiliation on Anarres. This was influenced by the feminist ideal that men define themselves by their possessions while women define themselves based on their relationships with others (Wsu.edu). Most decisions on Anarres are made based on how others will view the actions. If a community is upset with someone they may remove them from the meal plan so that the person has to prepare their own meals alone. People that do not follow the societal norms may be forced to leave and must join another community or become a hermit. Odonian views on sexuality are influenced by ideal twelve which states: “Homosexuality and bisexuality should be just as socially acceptable as heterosexuality--as should celibacy (wsu.edu).” Homosexuality and bisexuality are considered normal on Anarres. For example; Shevek prefers women but had sex with Bedap to reassert their friendship.
Several aspects of Shevek’s relationship with Takver reassert that the story was influenced by the feminist movement:
“8. The social emphasis on physical beauty depersonalizes and dehumanizes women. 13. Sex should be a matter of intimate sharing, not of conquest or trophy-hunting. 17. Modern childbirth techniques common in hospitals are dehumanizing and dangerous. Women should be able to give birth at home, without drugs, using such traditions as giving birth in a squatting position. 20. A marriage in which a woman is prized only for her sexual attractiveness and availability is a sort of prostitution (wsu.edu).”
Shevek did not consider Takver to be pretty but when he looked at her he felt she looked intelligent and cheerful. Shevek chose to form a bond with Takver and it had nothing to do with her looks. Shevek felt that compulating, sex, was pointless without a bond to share. Shevek and Takver bonded to share their love and happiness together. When Takver gave birth to their first child she did so at home. Takver did not use drugs to ease her pain and she gave birth in a squatting position.
Perhaps the most significant ideal to be adopted in The Dispossessed is ideal twenty-five: “Great women from the past can provide inspiration for us today; their influence and importance need to be more widely recognized. (Wsu.edu)” Odo was the woman that spurred the revolution that led to the settlement of Anarres. Seven generations after her death and her teachings are still a major part of Odonian society.
Works cited
< http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/science_fiction/dispossessed.html >
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