Herland- Gender Roles

               Gender roles in America have been rigidly cut out for men and women since colonial times and have changed throughout history. However, in Herland the gender norms differ greatly from what the men are accustomed to back home. When the men arrive on the land they are surprised by the fact that only women inhabit the area because of the advancement and civilized society the women alone had developed. Previous to their arrival to Herland the men leave women in their nation whom have domestic roles in the home and strict womanly duties. Duties and norms of women include taking care of the children, cooking, cleaning, sewing, and essential household chores, while the men work in the social sphere to provide for their families.

                In my AP United States History class gender norms and roles are a major topic through American history. From colonial times to present day America gender roles have transformed but also in some ways stay the same. Women have gone through having completely no social or political participation and being owned by their husbands to later earning rights which make them partially equal to men, such as the right to vote and have freedom. However, even today women are not completely equal to men because of certain feminine protective laws, such as protection from the draft and maternal privileges in the work place. The gender roles in Herland are different from any norms in American history and nevertheless present in today’s society.