Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

This is the second time I've read this story and got something different out of it this time. I fell in love with Gilman's ideas and writing in a college English class when we were assigned The Yellow Wallpaper. I was the only one in the class that loved the story. I felt Gilman's message about how women were treated was important and so when I discovered she had written Herland, based on an all women's utopian society, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it.
The beginning of the story was somewhat humorous duet e to the conversations between these three totally opposite adventurers and their discovery of this hidden female society. Terry, the macho, patriarchal leader funding the trip seems to find it impossible that women alone could create a functioning civilization let alone a happy one. Whereas Jeff, the sensitive woman worshipper, isn't totally convinced Terry is on to something yet kind of sits back and enjoys the ride. It's Van who sees women as more of an equal gender and allows his friendship with Ellador to delve into the strength and inner wisdom females encompass. For the first time, he is able to see the benefit of a "Marriage" outside of physical intimacy and the advantages of partnership on a whole new level. I found his thirst for knowledge and his shame of how our society sees the role of women endearing. Gilman's way of showing how backwards our society is in some ways was done through humor and comparisons with the Herland society. It was very tongue in cheek at times but got the message across with the women of Herland asking question after question about how our country works. It did make me feel a little embarassed to think how we often as a society think we know best and that we are superior to other cultures when in fact, some third world countries have maintained some values I think would benefit all of mankind. I recommend this book for a book club or class discussion as it leads to many different views and perspectives, much too long to go into a review. You just might learn something about the people in your life that you thought you knew very well.