College of Business Administration

Seminar in Business and the Good Society

Discussion Questions for March 13, 1997:

Assigned Reading:

Herland: A Lost Feminist Utopian Novel

Session Facilitators:

Denise Ganulin/John Messick

1. Prior to encountering the people of Herland, Terry, Jeff, and Van had various ideas as to what to expect form a population comprised solely of women. Terry judged women as either attractive or unattractive. He believed Herland would be very primitive, lacking in organization, inventions, and overall progress. Jeff, on the other hand, expected a totally harmonious sisterhood--"like a nunnery." What do these two opposing views tell us about our society?

2. During the expedition, the three men contemplated many potential dangers, including the presence of other, hostile men, yet quickly discounted the women population as a potential threat. Why?

3. The women described in Herland were not considered to possess many "feminine" traits, yet their entire culture is focused on and devoted to motherhood. Van noted that "those feminine charms we are so fond of are not feminine at all, but mere reflected masculinity--developed to please us (i.e., men)..." Do you agree with Van? Why or why not?

4. Throughout the book, the women of Herland are credited with being very patient, understanding, even-tempered, good natured, athletic/healthy, and intelligent. Are these the same characteristics that we value in a woman or a man? How does appearance affect our judgment? What value do we put on feminine and masculine characteristics? What are the acceptable and preferred norms in our society? Are those norms different throughout our country (i.e., southern California vs the midwest)?

5. In your Utopia, what traits and characteristics are appealing? Are they gender-based?

6. The discussion between the three men and their tutors on dogs vs cats was quite humorous. Why was this included, and what does it tell us about our own environment? Can you draw any parallels?

7. It was often noted that the people of Herland were completely devoted to the improvement of their overall society. In this sense, the individual needs of a person were expected to be sacrificed for the betterment of the community. One striking example is discussed on pages 82-3. In this case, Somel explains to Van that although bearing a child is the ultimate joy, the caring of the baby is considered an art form and left to professionals to handle. How do you feel about this?

8. Does the author consider women to be more connected to 'Mother Earth' than men are? Consider the comparison made between Terry (a "man's man, skilled in mechanics, electrical, tough, etc.) and the typical women of Herland (forest dwelling all day, living in flatter, simpler homes designed to compliment the landscape).

9. What does this book tell us about diversity? Does your Utopia consist of uniform views? Are different view points important in your Utopia? How is controversy dealt with?

10. The views and beliefs of the three men in Herland are generally discounted throughout the entire story. Have you ever felt you views were uniformly ignored, or that you have been discriminated against? How so, and why?

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