Lakehead University Library Logo
    • Login
    View Item 
    •   Knowledge Commons
    • Electronic Theses and Dissertations
    • Retrospective theses
    • View Item
    •   Knowledge Commons
    • Electronic Theses and Dissertations
    • Retrospective theses
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.
    quick search

    Browse

    All of Knowledge CommonsCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDisciplineAdvisorCommittee MemberThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDisciplineAdvisorCommittee Member

    My Account

    Login

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics

    Androgyny in feminist utopian literature : fictional challenges to stereotypic gender constructions

    Thumbnail

    View/Open

    CoxJ2000m-1b.pdf (7.405Mb)

    Date

    2000

    Author

    Cox, Janis

    Degree

    Master of Arts

    Discipline

    Sociology

    Subject

    Feminist literature
    Utopias in literature
    Androgyny (Psychology) in literature

    Metadata

    Show full item record

    Abstract

    One emphasis in feminism has been the issue of gender stereotypes, particularly concerning their role in the construction of what are thought to be normative male and female traits and sex roles. The supposed naturalness of these traits has helped allow for and perpetuate gender inequalities. Prevailing views in Western society, primarily based on reproductive roles, can be traced back to Aristotle, and support the idea that women and men are inherently different, men are inherently dominant and superior, and these differences are natural (Bern, 1993, 1). Science supports these positions by offering ‘evidence’ that sex and gender differences are innate in males and females. Feminists challenge these views claiming that women are subordinated by nurture not nature (Schiebinger, 1989, 273-274). Simone de Beauvoir summed up this viewpoint succinctly when she wrote, “one is not born, but rather becomes a woman” (deBeauvoir, 1952, 267). Today many feminists and sociologists concur with de Beauvoir’s position and conceptualize perceived masculine and feminine traits as constructed and assigned to males or females (Vetterling-Braggin, 1982, 152). This perception is an important step toward understanding and challenging the foundations of gender oppression.

    URI

    http://knowledgecommons.lakeheadu.ca/handle/2453/1713

    Collections

    • Retrospective theses

    Lakehead University Library
    Contact Us | Send Feedback

     


    Lakehead University Library
    Contact Us | Send Feedback