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All three texts define the social construction of femininity in their own way. In both Herland and "Sulatana's Dream" they question the how constructs of gender role opperate. In "Sultana's Dream" being "mannish" is "shy and timid" and in Herland the women of Herland do not define attributes like "manly" and "womanly" the same way that the men do, not only do they not define it the same, but they do not care to define it in the same ways. In Iola Leroy women are defined in more a traditional way. Being pure, accomodating, and well-mannered are all praised in the novel, but the novel does strongly condemn complacency in the face of evil and how it is up to the women of society to fight whatever evils men create. "Sultana's Dream" also exhibits the necessity for women to be "pure" but the women in this society find power in their virtue and their inherent goodness is how the women maintain rule over their society. In Herland the fact that the women are asexual would deem them "pure" by Victorian standards, but they do not describe it as purity in their society. The most feminine woman by Victorian standards in Herland, Alima, was also the one most vulnerable to sexual assault in the novel by her husband and her femininity is used as an excuse by the narrator to justify her husands behavior.
12017-04-25T10:33:29-07:00Sarah Jackson43ef9ce4fd756e245f7ab199b4369de8818a8778"Sultana's Dream" Femininty page 8 part 14Traditional ideas of gender are challenged throughout "Sultana's Dream." Both readers and the sultana are meant to be shock at the description of men provided by Sister Sara. In both Herland and "Sultana's Dream," women are negatively described as more male than female, and yet here the sultana's maleness is the stereotypical feminine.media/Mannish.jpgplain2017-04-30T14:46:09-07:00Sarah Jackson43ef9ce4fd756e245f7ab199b4369de8818a8778
12017-04-25T10:32:46-07:00Sarah Jackson43ef9ce4fd756e245f7ab199b4369de8818a8778"Sultana's Dream" Femininty page 8 part 24Rokeya very consiously connects women with virtue and rightness and men with fear. In "Ladyland" women have been recognized as morally superior and have therefore been released from their zenanas to reign over society.media/ladyland.jpgplain2017-04-30T14:42:59-07:00Sarah Jackson43ef9ce4fd756e245f7ab199b4369de8818a8778
12017-04-30T12:45:30-07:00Sarah Jackson43ef9ce4fd756e245f7ab199b4369de8818a8778"Sultana's Dream" Femininity page 103Though most gender characteristics have been swapped, Rokeya remarks here that not all traditionally feminine tasks are fit for men. Women of Ladyland still retain some of the same characteristics as women from that sultana's world. It shows just another way that women are substantially superior to the men of Ladyland.media/Sultana Fem. page 10.jpgplain2017-04-30T14:53:35-07:00Sarah Jackson43ef9ce4fd756e245f7ab199b4369de8818a8778
12017-04-25T07:11:27-07:00Gabrielle Bordersc7d5d6f1f1e24c4a5dbf90d6d0676416b95b0c32Iola Leroy p. 394Iola Femininity In Iola Leroy femininity is described in a more traditional Victorian sense, Iola is described as "a trembling dove" and as being cordial, beautiful, and well-mannered. While Iola is in one sense a representation of Coventry Patmore's "The Angel in the House" she is strong-willed and independent thoughtout the novel.media/39.jpgplain2017-04-30T14:40:51-07:00Gabrielle Bordersc7d5d6f1f1e24c4a5dbf90d6d0676416b95b0c32
12017-04-25T07:12:15-07:00Gabrielle Bordersc7d5d6f1f1e24c4a5dbf90d6d0676416b95b0c32Iola Leroy p. 722Iola Femininity The speak in this quote is Iola's father talking about marrying her mother who used to be one of his slaves. Being acceptable to be his wife meant her being a dutfil and unquestioning nurse to him in his time of need. Quite a problematic way to view women and marriage.media/72.jpgplain2017-04-30T14:42:33-07:00Gabrielle Bordersc7d5d6f1f1e24c4a5dbf90d6d0676416b95b0c32
12017-04-30T17:29:52-07:00Hanna Preston570c934e72409b624d2132357aa8a83e4a22f067Herland femininity 472The women in Herland are unlike any women the men have previously encountered. A lot of traits that these women embody are what the men consider to be masculine, or simply not feminine. In Herland, there are no such concepts. Terry notes that the Herland women are not feminine because they lack modesty, submissiveness, and patience. This illustrates the socially constructed gender roles and traits that are present in modern society and the extent to which these preconceived notions shape perception.media/Femininity.JPGplain2017-04-30T20:25:54-07:00Hanna Preston570c934e72409b624d2132357aa8a83e4a22f067
12017-04-30T17:30:44-07:00Hanna Preston570c934e72409b624d2132357aa8a83e4a22f067Herland femininity pg. 613This quote vividly depicts the stark contrast that is present between female qualities and roles in Herland and those of modern society. The women of Herland cannot fathom that men would need to "allow" women to work, or that they "honor" and "idolize" them by making them homemakers. The women of Herland find this absurd. Femininity and the social roles that follow it are completely opposite in these divergent worlds.media/femininity61.JPGplain2017-04-30T20:36:48-07:00Hanna Preston570c934e72409b624d2132357aa8a83e4a22f067
