A
> Our current society has patriarchal norms? Assuming it is the
american one
>you're talking about, could you expand? Privately to the interested parties
>if you want to answer as such, with reference to Heinlein's ideas, if on
>the list.
>
> Nicola
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>
Nicola,
I was indeed referring to American society (I'll expose my ignorance badly
enough generalizing about my own country without alluding to other
societies). What I meant was that though we in the US give some lip service
to the equality of the sexes, the great majority of the power is still held
by males--men dominate in the congress, the judiciary, most of the
professions, senior positions in business, even full-professorships in
academe. Unless one assumes, as I emphatically do not, that this situation
accurately reflects the respective talents and aptitudes of men and women,
it's hard not to assume a fair amount of conscious and unconscious prejudice
for men and against women.
Heinlein challenges these beliefs to some extent--his women are scientists,
and starship pilots, and warriors--but I think Stephanie Hall is right to
see that seemingly enlightened attitude undermined by a kind of reflexive
deference Heinlein's women pay to their mates (if not men in general). My
point was that in his later fiction Heinlein does not endorse the current
norms of American society (and its science fictional incarnations in his
work), nor does he offer a real challenge or reasoned critique. His heroes
and heroines just drop out and found their own utopias (mostly dedicated to
sex and the sort of interminable lectures late Heinlein was so fond of).
No offense to the Heinlein fans out there: I've always loved Heinlein's
fiction--it's just that I can love him and criticize him at the same time.
Kevin
>
>
Kevin P. Mulcahy
Alexander Library
Rutgers University
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