# data[].attributes.body
(Lola) Romances
(Lola) Romances
I think that  the romantic relationships are useless and quite paradoxical regarding the theme of the novel
Wonderwoman
Wonderwoman 


Sexism
Sexism
The author is a woman and yet she writes so many sexist and mysogin comments on women in order to praise women ? I don't understand ! 
Océane Slegers - Wonder woman: women need to be helped by a magical tool made by a godess and men are strong by nature
Océane Slegers - Wonder woman: women need to be helped by a magical tool made by a godess and men are strong by nature
Gender roles?
The women in Herland take care of everything, and the presence of these three men is depicted as almost useless, if not for educational purposes. But the three men have defined characteristics and personalities while the women are more of a big ensemble who have similar traits. 
Women
Women
Aure 

They look masculine with their short hair + no jewels. They are also very strong and skilled. They are afraid of anything 
Sexuality (Marion)
Sexuality (Marion)
-Absence of desire,
-sex seen a a duty = 
Gilman's Herland
Gilman's Herland
Herland is very critical about our society and Gilman uses a lot of irony to show things that are outrageous regarding gender roles and norms. This is shown for instance with the discussion that they have about Herland and the outside world. The men have to describe why things are the way they are in our world, to explain gender roles, and it often seems ridiculous because there are no valid reasons. And when the men think about it (except Terry), they also come to this conclusion. This is for instance what happened when Vandyck realised that masculinity and femininity weren’t natural but actually a cultural construct.

Leïla Dardikh - economy a
Leïla Dardikh - economy and agriculture:
I don't remember read
women = caring
women = caring
- in both civilization but in Herland they're active, not passive
SD
Wonderwoman
Wonderwoman
- Amazonian
- Greek mythology
Wonder woman + weapons (Elise)
Wonder woman + weapons (Elise)
different type of "weapons", or rather tools for self-defence than typically masculine ones: girdle, lasso, bracelets...

Emilie Lambert - Paradox
Emilie Lambert - Paradox
Herland is a feminist book and the narrator is a man. Why did the author choose for a male narrator?
Viviane Castin
Viviane Castin 
I think that it can be considered a critical utopia because there are many contradictions. 
Animals
Animals
- cat / dogs => useful
- no cattle (horses, cows,...) => no intensive nor extensive farming
- relationship to the animals/pets is very different
=> pragmatism 
SD
Aure Vannieuwenhuyze
Aure Vannieuwenhuyze
There is a birth control so there is no overpopulation because they can control it. 
Women are free to control their fertility
Not every woman can have a child: some are not suitable; they are gently encouraged not to be mother. If they don’t have the good qualities. 	
They only have girls 
Gender binaries (Blanche)
Gender binaries (Blanche)
a society made up of women is all about living in a world free of gender binaries, of having to be characterized as 'woman', 'female' and every connotation that comes with it, and rather be considered as "human" in general -- not live to please men or how they are perceived by them.
d sides" of men Jeff = f
d sides" of men 
Jeff = fascinated by those different women and this new way of living in community 
Vandyck = he is kind of a mix of the two way of thinking, he is more "prudent"
Sexuality (Lise)
Sexuality (Lise)
The women in Herland are almost asexual, they don't have any sexual desires. They see sex as a duty necessary to reproduction, and not as a pleasure. They don't see the difference between the human sexuality and the sexuality of the animals around them. They have lived so long without sexuality (they have children with pathogenesis) that they don't understand it at all, which is frustrating for the three men whose point of view we share. Terry even tries to rape Alima at some point. The narrator, Van, considers this act "impolite" but doesn't see it as a crime because it's her husband after all (rape culture rhetoric!). 
(Lola) 3 male characters
(Lola) 3 male characters
Terry = embodiment of the patriarchy, the "bad sides" of men 
Jeff = fascinated by those different women and this new way of living in community 
Vandyck = he is kind of a mix of the two way of thinking, he is more "prudent"
Gilman's perspective (Alicia)
Gilman's perspective (Alicia)
I've also read some analysis about the book and find out that the author was influenced by her life experiences. She went through different problems such as being depressed because of her physical inactivity during her pregnancy. However, we can read in this book that women are very active and athletic. It’s very interesting to see how she depicts the total opposite world in her book, how she would like it to be because of what she has been through
education
education
- Education is not a forcible feeding of the mind 
- education but not schooling

SD
Jessica Seymoens
Jessica Seymoens
I find it incredible that this book was published so early in the 20th century because some of the ideas presented in the book — not only in regards to feminism, but in every other area as well— are still being argued over today.
Emilie Lambert - 3 Male voices/Perspectives
Emilie Lambert - 3 Male voices/Perspectives
What I found interesting is that the three male characters are totally different. Van has a relationship with Ellador that is rather equal, Terry thinks that women are subordinate to men and attempts an escape from Herland and Jeff is a rather romantic type of person, he finds Herland a paradise. 

Sophie De Gelan - Motherhood
Sophie De Gelan - Motherhood 
Having children is considered as normal. The mothers take their roles very seriously and it is as if motherhood as a central theme could be perceived. The fact that they only have daughters strongly shows that they don't need men. 
I loved the fact that all children are ≠.

In the tradition, the father gives his last name to his children. However, since there are no fathers and that the community forms a sort of gigantic family, there is no need for last names. I see it as another rejection of fatherhood. 

Alessia - aim of the author
Alessia - aim of the author
I think Gilman is criticising the society she lives in by showing a world where education plays a central role, while in the real world women had very little access to education.
3 male characters
3 male characters
- Jeff = chivalric, romantic, ideals
- Terry = aggressive, "man's man", women = game
- Van = in-between, empathy, 


Emphasis on motherhood (Lise)
Emphasis on motherhood (Lise)
Motherhood is really important to the women who live in Herland. It is close to a religion for them. Their whole word revolves around the children. At some point, there is some anti-abortion rhetoric in the book : "you surely do not destroy the unborn", says one of the women with "a look of ghastly horror". 
Victor Duqué - relationships
Victor Duqué - relationships
The relation between the women seems a bit unrealistic to me. Even if they have the same purpose, they seem to have different tempers (for example, Alima is very hot-tempered). Such a harmony without the slightest conflict seems impossible.
Nathan Hormidas
Nathan Hormidas
Control of sexuality through the population regulation
V
V
3 Male voices/ Perspectives Laureline
3 Male voices/ Perspectives Laureline
- Jeff = open-minded, he comes to discover but not to impose, he completely loves the society the women of Herland have build, he is really critic about his own society 
He finds peace and joy in Herland: the culture, the livestyle and I find that really amazing and mature, however I hate the fact that he feels like his original society is awful compared to Herland. He comes from this society and is a good man which means that there is something good. 
-Terry = wants to conquest. He wants to possess women. He is very mysogine. I think that it is a shame that he did not learn anything from Herland. He leaves the country as thumb as he entered it. he stays stubborn, even if I hope that he grew up. 
-Vandyck: open-minded but still critic, he is the more relatable of the three men. 


Education (Hélène T.)
Education (Hélène T.)
Education is one of the most important things of the island. It is almost considered  like a value. All women rely on education to expand their knowledge and, above all, to become strong educated independent women. So, the idea of independence is also very strong in Herland (even though the concept of solidarity is important too).
Océane Slegers -
Océane Slegers - 
Leïla Dardikh - economy and agriculture:
Leïla Dardikh - economy and agriculture:
I don't remember reading anything about money or economy in general. The women in Herland share everything and they don't seem to have this idea of "belongings" either.
As for the agricutlure, maybe I missed something but I think they only feed on nuts and fruits that they grow in the forests and gardens since they gave up cattles which were taking too much space in their limited land. Either way, I find it hard to believe that by just eating nuts and fruits, they manage to be full of strength and energy... (not saying that you're weak if you don't eat meat at all! I know there are other aliments that give enough energy but there were no mention of special aliments other than nuts and fruits in Herland... but maybe since they are used to that alimentation, their metabolism is stronger somehow)
Motherhood (Barbara Louant)
Motherhood (Barbara Louant)
What interested me the most was how society adapted around the concept of motherhood. I agree with Oceane as, in today's society, many women express their desire not to be mothers. This, in a way, still insinuate that a women without children is incomplete. Having children do not defines a woman identity. 
(Sarah) Wonder women
(Sarah) Wonder women
- stereotyped bodies? Perfect women, that all look alike.
- idea of a "pure" island, far from mischief and society horrors (it kinda made me think of colonialism; when the Europeans colonized America, they called it the "New World", as if the land was "pure" and that the people there could easily be controlled and possessed. As if they could start from scratch. I didn't read Herland tho loads of aspects we've mentionned already echo with Island, and the parallel with Wonder women - I admit I'm thinking more about the movie than the comics - is interesting). 
Amandine Biondaro - economy and agriculture:
Amandine Biondaro - economy and agriculture: 
- Agriculture is at the centre of their life 
- Forest is a central place for the agricultural system 
- Forest is always clean 
- Food is mainly based fruits and vegetables 
- Animals take too much place 
- Economy is based on an equal distribution for everyone -> there is no money
- Everyone has to work at some point and period in the agricultural field (and in general in every fields)
- They only produced what they need (after the births restrictions)
- Kind of weird that they do not eat meat and that they can still work that hard. 
- Women are vegan 
No need for men
No need for men 
(Alex. B)
I don't like the idea that men are not needed to have children. 
I know it is the purpose of the story, but I feel it undermine men's role in the creation of children. 
Some men already feel so in our world and I don't like it. 
I like the idea that women are independent, but men also play an importnat role in creation of new humans :)  
(Is it a kind of "positive discrimination" ?)

Sophie De Gelan - economy & agriculture
Sophie De Gelan - economy & agriculture
It seems that there is no money, they deal with what they have. No cattle, use women's breast milk. 
herland
herland
organization
Th
Herland and Thomas' More's Utopia: similarities
Herland and Thomas' More's Utopia: similarities
Herland: education, motherhood, relationships
Herland: education, motherhood, relationships
3 male voices/perspectives
3 male voices/perspectives
Eléonore Hénaut - motherhood and education
Eléonore Hénaut - motherhood and education 
Women are defined by their motherhood. It looks like an achievement in their life. They are the one in control of their lives and sometimes some of them are not "suited" to become mother, kind of deviant in this society. 

Education is also not for everybody. Some women do not have the ability to raise their child as good as some others who have been trained for that purpose. 
Education is central in the book but it also looks like a constant quest for perfection. Children should received the best education possible.  
Romane Sibille - motherhood
Romane Sibille - motherhood
Women control their fertility.
Not every woman can have a child,  some are not suitable. 
motherhood as a job.
they only have girls
Emilie Lambert - education
Emilie Lambert  - education 
Celis, Alima and Ellador are strong women, they are self-confident, intelligent and unafraid of men.
They speak another language.
Comfort, sisterhood, rituals
Comfort, sisterhood, rituals
Gilman's Herland: style and literary genre
Gilman's Herland: style and literary genre
Herland: problems, paradoxes
Herland: problems, paradoxes
(Oceane Thény): What could be a paradox is that Gilman is an American feminist, and the world “Herland” she is describing revolves around one main element which is motherhood. Nowadays in our society, certain women are raising their voice when it comes to motherhood, saying that they do not feel the need of it. And in the book, it seems that motherhood is displayed as a kind of nirvana. 

(Alice Debels) : I was really puzzled by the absence of sexual desire. Without men women could still have some. It is as if sex was useless because they could have babies without it, but sex is not only about procreation. All women should not need men to have sexual desire.
I was also not at ease with the fact that all women want to be mothers, as if it is our sole purpose in life. 
Problems and paradoxes in Herland (Réianne)
Problems and paradoxes in Herland (Réianne)
I think one of the main problems with this kind of perfect society is that they rely on a very harmful eugenics system for breeding (i.e. people presenting weaker or "deviant" characteristics are not "kept"), which reminds me of social darwinism and even a sort of nazi rhetoric... I think that the idea of achieving a perfect society by eliminating weaker beings (even getting rid of animals, for instance) is actually harmful and dangerous.
And it is a bit paradoxical since Gilman also presents the women as educators as to illustrate the defaults of the society the men live in, but actually they are the ones seen "educating" the women of Herland who are intrigued by this world they don't know; yet their own civilisation is not really perfect beca

# data[].attributes.body
me purpose, they seem to
me purpose, they seem to have different tempers (for example, Alima is very hot-tempered). Such a harmony without the slightest conflict seems impossible.
Nathan Hormidas
Nathan Hormidas
Control of sexuality through the population regulation
V
V
3 Male voices/ Perspectives Laureline
3 Male voices/ Perspectives Laureline
- Jeff = open-minded, he comes to discover but not to impose, he completely loves the society the women of Herland have build, he is really critic about his own society 
He finds peace and joy in Herland: the culture, the livestyle and I find that really amazing and mature, however I hate the fact that he feels like his original society is awful compared to Herland. He comes from this society and is a good man which means that there is something good. 
-Terry = wants to conquest. He wants to possess women. He is very mysogine. I think that it is a shame that he did not learn anything from Herland. He leaves the country as thumb as he entered it. he stays stubborn, even if I hope that he grew up. 
-Vandyck: open-minded but still critic, he is the more relatable of the three men. 


Motherhood (Barbara Louant)
What interested me the most was how society adapted around the concept of motherhood. I agree with Oceane as, in today's society, many women express their desire not to be mothers. This, in a way, still insinuate that a women without children is incomplete. Having children do not defines a woman identity. 
me purpose, they seem to
me purpose, they seem to have different tempers (for example, Alima is very hot-tempered). Such a harmony without the slightest conflict seems impossible.
Nathan Hormidas
Nathan Hormidas
Control of sexuality through the population regulation
V
V
3 Male voices/ Perspectives Laureline
3 Male voices/ Perspectives Laureline
- Jeff = open-minded, he comes to discover but not to impose, he completely loves the society the women of Herland have build, he is really critic about his own society 
He finds peace and joy in Herland: the culture, the livestyle and I find that really amazing and mature, however I hate the fact that he feels like his original society is awful compared to Herland. He comes from this society and is a good man which means that there is something good. 
-Terry = wants to conquest. He wants to possess women. He is very mysogine. I think that it is a shame that he did not learn anything from Herland. He leaves the country as thumb as he entered it. he stays stubborn, even if I hope that he grew up. 
-Vandyck: open-minded but still critic, he is the more relatable of the three men. 


Motherhood (Barbara Louant)
What interested me the most was how society adapted around the concept of motherhood. I agree with Oceane as, in today's society, many women express their desire not to be mothers. This, in a way, still insinuate that a women without children is incomplete. Having children do not defines a woman identity. 
me purpose, they seem to
me purpose, they seem to have different tempers (for example, Alima is very hot-tempered). Such a harmony without the slightest conflict seems impossible.
Nathan Hormidas
Nathan Hormidas
Control of sexuality through the population regulation
V
V
3 Male voices/ Perspectives Laureline
3 Male voices/ Perspectives Laureline
- Jeff = open-minded, he comes to discover but not to impose, he completely loves the society the women of Herland have build, he is really critic about his own society 
He finds peace and joy in Herland: the culture, the livestyle and I find that really amazing and mature, however I hate the fact that he feels like his original society is awful compared to Herland. He comes from this society and is a good man which means that there is something good. 
-Terry = wants to conquest. He wants to possess women. He is very mysogine. I think that it is a shame that he did not learn anything from Herland. He leaves the country as thumb as he entered it. he stays stubborn, even if I hope that he grew up. 
-Vandyck: open-minded but still critic, he is the more relatable of the three men. 


Motherhood (Barbara Louant)
What interested me the most was how society adapted around the concept of motherhood. I agree with Oceane as, in today's society, many women express their desire not to be mothers. This, in a way, still insinuate that a women without children is incomplete. Having children do not defines a woman identity. 
mals - cat / dogs => u
mals
- cat / dogs => useful
- no cattle (horses, cows,...) => no in
(Lola) Romances (Lola) Ro
(Lola) Romances
(Lola) Romances
I think that  the romantic relationships are useless and quite paradoxical regarding the theme of the novel
Wonderwoman
Wonderwoman 


Sexism
Sexism
The author is a woman and yet she writes so many sexist and mysogin comments on women in order to praise women ? I don't understand ! 
Océane Slegers - Wonder woman: women need to be helped by a magical tool made by a godess and men are strong by nature
Océane Slegers - Wonder woman: women need to be helped by a magical tool made by a godess and men are strong by nature
Gender roles?
The women in Herland take care of everything, and the presence of these three men is depicted as almost useless, if not for educational purposes. But the three men have defined characteristics and personalities while the women are more of a big ensemble who have similar traits. 
Women
Women
Aure 

They look masculine with their short hair + no jewels. They are also very strong and skilled. They are afraid of anything 
Sexuality (Marion)
Sexuality (Marion)
-Absence of desire,
-sex seen a a duty = 
Gilman's Herland
Gilman's Herland
Herland is very critical about our society and Gilman uses a lot of irony to show things that are outrageous regarding gender roles and norms. This is shown for instance with the discussion that they have about Herland and the outside world. The men have to describe why things are the way they are in our world, to explain gender roles, and it often seems ridiculous because there are no valid reasons. And when the men think about it (except Terry), they also come to this conclusion. This is for instance what happened when Vandyck realised that masculinity and femininity weren’t natural but actually a cultural construct.

Leïla Dardikh - economy a
Leïla Dardikh - economy and agriculture:
I don't remember read
women = caring
women = caring
- in both civilization but in Herland they're active, not passive
SD
Wonderwoman
Wonderwoman
- Amazonian
- Greek mythology
Wonder woman + weapons (Elise)
Wonder woman + weapons (Elise)
different type of "weapons", or rather tools for self-defence than typically masculine ones: girdle, lasso, bracelets...

Emilie Lambert - Paradox
Emilie Lambert - Paradox
Herland is a feminist book and the narrator is a man. Why did the author choose for a male narrator?
Viviane Castin
Viviane Castin 
I think that it can be considered a critical utopia because there are many contradictions. 
Animals
Animals
- cat / dogs => useful
- no cattle (horses, cows,...) => no intensive nor extensive farming
- relationship to the animals/pets is very different
=> pragmatism 
SD
Aure Vannieuwenhuyze
Aure Vannieuwenhuyze
There is a birth control so there is no overpopulation because they can control it. 
Women are free to control their fertility
Not every woman can have a child: some are not suitable; they are gently encouraged not to be mother. If they don’t have the good qualities. 	
They only have girls 
Gender binaries (Blanche)
Gender binaries (Blanche)
a society made up of women is all about living in a world free of gender binaries, of having to be characterized as 'woman', 'female' and every connotation that comes with it, and rather be considered as "human" in general -- not live to please men or how they are perceived by them.
d sides" of men Jeff = f
d sides" of men 
Jeff = fascinated by those different women and this new way of living in community 
Vandyck = he is kind of a mix of the two way of thinking, he is more "prudent"
Sexuality (Lise)
Sexuality (Lise)
The women in Herland are almost asexual, they don't have any sexual desires. They see sex as a duty necessary to reproduction, and not as a pleasure. They don't see the difference between the human sexuality and the sexuality of the animals around them. They have lived so long without sexuality (they have children with pathogenesis) that they don't understand it at all, which is frustrating for the three men whose point of view we share. Terry even tries to rape Alima at some point. The narrator, Van, considers this act "impolite" but doesn't see it as a crime because it's her husband after all (rape culture rhetoric!). 
(Lola) 3 male characters
(Lola) 3 male characters
Terry = embodiment of the patriarchy, the "bad sides" of men 
Jeff = fascinated by those different women and this new way of living in community 
Vandyck = he is kind of a mix of the two way of thinking, he is more "prudent"
Gilman's perspective (Alicia)
Gilman's perspective (Alicia)
I've also read some analysis about the book and find out that the author was influenced by her life experiences. She went through different problems such as being depressed because of her physical inactivity during her pregnancy. However, we can read in this book that women are very active and athletic. It’s very interesting to see how she depicts the total opposite world in her book, how she would like it to be because of what she has been through
education
education
- Education is not a forcible feeding of the mind 
- education but not schooling

SD
Jessica Seymoens
Jessica Seymoens
I find it incredible that this book was published so early in the 20th century because some of the ideas presented in the book — not only in regards to feminism, but in every other area as well— are still being argued over today.
Emilie Lambert - 3 Male voices/Perspectives
Emilie Lambert - 3 Male voices/Perspectives
What I found interesting is that the three male characters are totally different. Van has a relationship with Ellador that is rather equal, Terry thinks that women are subordinate to men and attempts an escape from Herland and Jeff is a rather romantic type of person, he finds Herland a paradise. 

Sophie De Gelan - Motherhood
Sophie De Gelan - Motherhood 
Having children is considered as normal. The mothers take their roles very seriously and it is as if motherhood as a central theme could be perceived. The fact that they only have daughters strongly shows that they don't need men. 
I loved the fact that all children are ≠.

In the tradition, the father gives his last name to his children. However, since there are no fathers and that the community forms a sort of gigantic family, there is no need for last names. I see it as another rejection of fatherhood. 

Alessia - aim of the author
Alessia - aim of the author
I think Gilman is criticising the society she lives in by showing a world where education plays a central role, while in the real world women had very little access to education.
3 male characters
3 male characters
- Jeff = chivalric, romantic, ideals
- Terry = aggressive, "man's man", women = game
- Van = in-between, empathy, 


Emphasis on motherhood (Lise)
Emphasis on motherhood (Lise)
Motherhood is really important to the women who live in Herland. It is close to a religion for them. Their whole word revolves around the children. At some point, there is some anti-abortion rhetoric in the book : "you surely do not destroy the unborn", says one of the women with "a look of ghastly horror". 
Victor Duqué - relationships
Victor Duqué - relationships
The relation between the women seems a bit unrealistic to me. Even if they have the same purpose, they seem to have different tempers (for example, Alima is very hot-tempered). Such a harmony without the slightest conflict seems impossible.
Nathan Hormidas
Nathan Hormidas
Control of sexuality through the population regulation
V
V
3 Male voices/ Perspectives Laureline
3 Male voices/ Perspectives Laureline
- Jeff = open-minded, he comes to discover but not to impose, he completely loves the society the women of Herland have build, he is really critic about his own society 
He finds peace and joy in Herland: the culture, the livestyle and I find that really amazing and mature, however I hate the fact that he feels like his original society is awful compared to Herland. He comes from this society and is a good man which means that there is something good. 
-Terry = wants to conquest. He wants to possess women. He is very mysogine. I think that it is a shame that he did not learn anything from Herland. He leaves the country as thumb as he entered it. he stays stubborn, even if I hope that he grew up. 
-Vandyck: open-minded but still critic, he is the more relatable of the three men. 


Education (Hélène T.)
Education (Hélène T.)
Education is one of the most important things of the island. It is almost considered  like a value. All women rely on education to expand their knowledge and, above all, to become strong educated independent women. So, the idea of independence is also very strong in Herland (even though the concept of solidarity is important too).
Océane Slegers -
Océane Slegers - 
Leïla Dardikh - economy and agriculture:
Leïla Dardikh - economy and agriculture:
I don't remember reading anything about money or economy in general. The women in Herland share everything and they don't seem to have this idea of "belongings" either.
As for the agricutlure, maybe I missed something but I think they only feed on nuts and fruits that they grow in the forests and gardens since they gave up cattles which were taking too much space in their limited land. Either way, I find it hard to believe that by just eating nuts and fruits, they manage to be full of strength and energy... (not saying that you're weak if you don't eat meat at all! I know there are other aliments that give enough energy but there were no mention of special aliments other than nuts and fruits in Herland... but maybe since they are used to that alimentation, their metabolism is stronger somehow)
Motherhood (Barbara Louant)
Motherhood (Barbara Louant)
What interested me the most was how society adapted around the concept of motherhood. I agree with Oceane as, in today's society, many women express their desire not to be mothers. This, in a way, still insinuate that a women without children is incomplete. Having children do not defines a woman identity. 
(Sarah) Wonder women
(Sarah) Wonder women
- stereotyped bodies? Perfect women, that all look alike.
- idea of a "pure" island, far from mischief and society horrors (it kinda made me think of colonialism; when the Europeans colonized America, they called it the "New World", as if the land was "pure" and that the people there could easily be controlled and possessed. As if they could start from scratch. I didn't read Herland tho loads of aspects we've mentionned already echo with Island, and the parallel with Wonder women - I admit I'm thinking more about the movie than the comics - is interesting). 
Amandine Biondaro - economy and agriculture:
Amandine Biondaro - economy and agriculture: 
- Agriculture is at the centre of their life 
- Forest is a central place for the agricultural system 
- Forest is always clean 
- Food is mainly based fruits and vegetables 
- Animals take too much place 
- Economy is based on an equal distribution for everyone -> there is no money
- Everyone has to work at some point and period in the agricultural field (and in general in every fields)
- They only produced what they need (after the births restrictions)
- Kind of weird that they do not eat meat and that they can still work that hard. 
- Women are vegan 
No need for men
No need for men 
(Alex. B)
I don't like the idea that men are not needed to have children. 
I know it is the purpose of the story, but I feel it undermine men's role in the creation of children. 
Some men already feel so in our world and I don't like it. 
I like the idea that women are independent, but men also play an importnat role in creation of new humans :)  
(Is it a kind of "positive discrimination" ?)

Sophie De Gelan - economy & agriculture
Sophie De Gelan - economy & agriculture
It seems that there is no money, they deal with what they have. No cattle, use women's breast milk. 
herland
herland
organization
Th
Herland and Thomas' More's Utopia: similarities
Herland and Thomas' More's Utopia: similarities
Herland: education, motherhood, relationships
Herland: education, motherhood, relationships
3 male voices/perspectives
3 male voices/perspectives
Eléonore Hénaut - motherhood and education
Eléonore Hénaut - motherhood and education 
Women are defined by their motherhood. It looks like an achievement in their life. They are the one in control of their lives and sometimes some of them are not "suited" to become mother, kind of deviant in this society. 

Education is also not for everybody. Some women do not have the ability to raise their child as good as some others who have been trained for that purpose. 
Education is central in the book but it also looks like a constant quest for perfection. Children should received the best education possible.  
Romane Sibille - motherhood
Romane Sibille - motherhood
Women control their fertility.
Not every woman can have a child,  some are not suitable. 
motherhood as a job.
they only have girls
Emilie Lambert - education
Emilie Lambert  - education 
Celis, Alima and Ellador are strong women, they are self-confident, intelligent and unafraid of men.
They speak another language.
Comfort, sisterhood, rituals
Comfort, sisterhood, rituals
Gilman's Herland: style and literary genre
Gilman's Herland: style and literary genre
Herland: problems, paradoxes
Herland: problems, paradoxes
(Oceane Thény): What could be a paradox is that Gilman is an American feminist, and the world “Herland” she is describing revolves around one main element which is motherhood. Nowadays in our society, certain women are raising their voice when it comes to motherhood, saying that they do not feel the need of it. And in the book, it seems that motherhood is displayed as a kind of nirvana. 

(Alice Debels) : I was really puzzled by the absence of sexual desire. Without men women could still have some. It is as if sex was useless because they could have babies without it, but sex is not only about procreation. All women should not need men to have sexual desire.
I was also not at ease with the fact that all women want to be mothers, as if it is our sole purpose in life. 
Problems and paradoxes in Herland (Réianne)
Problems and paradoxes in Herland (Réianne)
I think one of the main problems with this kind of perfect society is that they rely on a very harmful eugenics system for breeding (i.e. people presenting weaker or "deviant" characteristics are not "kept"), which reminds me of social darwinism and even a sort of nazi rhetoric... I think that the idea of achieving a perfect society by eliminating weaker beings (even getting rid of animals, for instance) is actually harmful and dangerous.
And it is a bit paradoxical since Gilman also presents the women as educators as to illustrate the defaults of the society the men live in, but actually they are the ones seen "educating" the women of Herland who are intrigued by this world they don't know; yet their own civilisation is not really perfect beca
mals - cat / dogs => u
mals
- cat / dogs => useful
- no cattle (horses, cows,...) => no in
(Lola) Romances
(Lola) Romances
I think that  the romantic relationships are useless and quite paradoxical regarding the theme of the novel
Wonderwoman
Wonderwoman 


Océane Slegers - Wonder woman: women need to be helped by a magical tool made by a goddess and men are strong by nature
Océane Slegers - Wonder woman: women need to be helped by a magical tool made by a goddess and men are strong by nature
Sexism
Sexism
The author is a woman and yet she writes so many sexist and mysogin comments on women in order to praise women ? I don't understand ! 
Gender roles?
Gender roles?
The women in Herland take care of everything, and the presence of these three men is depicted as almost useless, if not for educational purposes. But the three men have defined characteristics and personalities while the women are more of a big ensemble who have similar traits. (Don't have time to develop so I'll explain further later - Reianne)
Women
Women
Aure 

They look masculine with their short hair + no jewels. They are also very strong and skilled. They are afraid of anything 
Gilman's Herland
Gilman's Herland
Herland is very critical about our society and Gilman uses a lot of irony to show things that are outrageous regarding gender roles and norms. This is shown for instance with the discussion that they have about Herland and the outside world. The men have to describe why things are the way they are in our world, to explain gender roles, and it often seems ridiculous because there are no valid reasons. And when the men think about it (except Terry), they also come to this conclusion. This is for instance what happened when Vandyck realised that masculinity and femininity weren’t natural but actually a cultural construct.

Leïla Dardikh - economy a
Leïla Dardikh - economy and agriculture:
I don't remember read
women = caring
women = caring
- in both civilization but in Herland they're active, not passive
SD
Wonderwoman
Wonderwoman
- Amazonian
- Greek mythology
Wonder woman + weapons (Elise)
Wonder woman + weapons (Elise)
different type of "weapons", or rather tools for self-defence than typically masculine ones: girdle, lasso, bracelets...

Emilie Lambert - Paradox
Emilie Lambert - Paradox
Herland is a feminist book and the narrator is a man. Why did the author choose for a male narrator?
Sexuality (Lise)
Sexuality (Lise)
The women in Herland are almost asexual, they don't have any sexual desires. They see sex as a duty necessary to reproduction, and not as a pleasure. They don't see the difference between the human sexuality and the sexuality of the animals around them. They have lived so long without sexuality (they have children with pathogenesis) that they don't understand it at all, which is frustrating for the three men whose point of view we share. Terry even tries to rape Alima at some point. The narrator, Van, considers this act "impolite" but doesn't see it as a crime because it's her husband after all (rape culture rhetoric!). 
Gilman's perspective (Alicia)
Gilman's perspective (Alicia)
I've also read some analysis about the book and find out that the author was influenced by her life experiences. She went through different problems such as being depressed because of her physical inactivity during her pregnancy. However, we can read in this book that women are very active and athletic. It’s very interesting to see how she depicts the total opposite world in her book, how she would like it to be because of what she has been through
education
education
Education is not a forcible feeding of the mind 
(Lola) 3 male characters
(Lola) 3 male characters
Terry = embodiment of the patriarchy, the "bad sides" of men --> he is annoying and stuck in the 
Jeff = fascinated by those different women and this new way of living in community 
Vandyck = he is kind of a mix of the two way of thinking, he 
Jessica Seymoens
Jessica Seymoens
I find it incredible that this book was published so early in the 20th century because some of the ideas presented in the book — not only in regards to feminism, but in every other area as well— are still being argued over today.
Emilie Lambert - 3 Male voices/Perspectives
Emilie Lambert - 3 Male voices/Perspectives
What I found interesting is that the three male characters are totally different. Van has a relationship with Ellad
Sophie De Gelan - Motherhood
Sophie De Gelan - Motherhood 
Having children is considered as normal. The mothers take their roles very seriously and it is as if motherhood as a central theme could be perceived. The fact that they only have daughters strongly shows that they don't need men. 
I loved the fact that all children are ≠.

In the tradition, the father gives his last name to his children. However, since there are no fathers and that the community forms a sort of gigantic family, there is no need for last names. I see it as another rejection of fatherhood. 

Alessia - aim of the author
Alessia - aim of the author
I think Gilman is criticising the society she lives in by showing a world where education plays a central role, while in the real world women had very little access to education.
3 male characters
3 male characters
- Jeff = chivalric, romantic, ideals
- Terry = aggressive, "man's man", women = game
- Van = in-between, empathy, 

SD
Emphasis on motherhood (Lise)
Emphasis on motherhood (Lise)
Motherhood is really important to the women who live in Herland. It is close to a religion for them. Their whole word revolves around the children. At some point, there is some anti-abortion rhetoric in the book : "you surely do not destroy the unborn", says one of the women with "a look of ghastly horror". 
Victor Duqué
Victor Duqué
The relation between the women seems a bit unrealistic to me. Even if they have the same purpose, they seem to have different tempers (for example, Alima is very hot-tempered). Such a harmony without the slightest conflict seems impossible.
Nathan Hormidas
Nathan Hormidas
Control of sexuality through the population regulation
V
V
3 Male voices/ Perspectives Laureline
3 Male voices/ Perspectives Laureline
- Jeff = open-minded, he comes to discover but not to impose, he completely loves the society the women of Herland have build, he is really critic about his own society 
He finds peace and joy in Herland: the culture, the livestyle and I find that really amazing and mature, however I hate the fact that he feels like his original society is awful compared to Herland. He comes from this society and is a good man which means that there is something good. 
-Terry = wants to conquest. He wants to possess women. He is very mysogine. I think that it is a shame that he did not learn anything from Herland. He leaves the country as thumb as he entered it. he stays stubborn, even if I hope that he grew up. 
-Vandyck: open-minded but still critic, he is the more relatable of the three men. 


Education (Hélène T.)
Education (Hélène T.)
Education is one of the most important things of the island. It is almost considered  like a value. All women rely on education to expand their knowledge and, above all, to become strong educated independent women. So, the idea of independence is also very strong in Herland (even though the concept of solidarity is important too).
Océane Slegers -
Océane Slegers - 
By Yohana
By Yohana 

Critical utopia and sex

Actually I didn’t finish the book yet but from what I’ve already read, I feel like Gilman creates a dialogue between utopia and critical utopia. I really feel that in the dialogues, the way how men see things in relation of a patriarchal society : « this is a civilized country [...] there must be men »

In my opinion, sex or love can’t be eradicated, these are specific to the human being. There’s a passage about the reproduction and the fact that humans are mating animals. In that case, sex and love are no longer related. And I think that we can see a link with the fact that at some point women said : we are mother... I think there is social issue behind that... (sorry it’s a bit messy)
Leïla Dardikh - economy and agriculture:
Leïla Dardikh - economy and agriculture:
I don't remember reading anything about money or economy in general. The women in Herland share everything and they don't seem to have this idea of "belongings" either.
As for the agricutlure, maybe I missed something but I think they only feed on nuts and fruits that they grow in the forests and gardens since they gave up cattles which were taking too much space in their limited land. Either way, I find it hard to believe that by just eating nuts and fruits, they manage to be full of strength and energy... (not saying that you're weak if you don't eat meat at all! I know there are other aliments that give enough energy but there were no mention of special aliments other than nuts and fruits in Herland... but maybe since they are used to that alimentation, their metabolism is stronger somehow)
Motherhood (Barbara Louant)
Motherhood (Barbara Louant)
What interested me the most was how society adapted around the concept of motherhood. I agree with Oceane as, in today's society, many women express their desire not to be mothers. This, in a way, still insinuate that a women without children is incomplete. Having children do not defines a woman identity. 
(Sarah) Wonder women
(Sarah) Wonder women
- stereotyped bodies? Perfect women, that all look alike.
- idea of a "pure" island, far from mischief and society horrors (it kinda made me think of colonialism; when the Europeans colonized America, they called it the "New World", as if the land was "pure" and that the people there could easily be controlled and possessed. As if they could start from scratch. I didn't read Herland tho loads of aspects we've mentionned already echo with Island, and the parallel with Wonder women - I admit I'm thinking more about the movie than the comics - is interesting). 
Amandine Biondaro - economy and agriculture:
Amandine Biondaro - economy and agriculture: 
- Agriculture is at the centre of their life 
- Forest is a central place for the agricultural system 
- Forest is always clean 
- Food is mainly based fruits and vegetables 
- Animals take too much place 
- Economy is based on an equal distribution for everyone -> there is no money
- Everyone has to work at some point and period in the agricultural field (and in general in every fields)
- They only produced what they need (after the births restrictions)
- Kind of weird that they do not eat meat and that they can still work that hard. 
- Women are vegan 
No need for men
No need for men 
(Alex. B)
I don't like the idea that men are not needed to have children. 
I know it is the purpose of the story, but I feel it undermine men's role in the creation of children. 
Some men already feel so in our world and I don't like it. 
I like the idea that women are independent, but men also play an importnat role in creation of new humans :)  
(Is it a kind of "positive discrimination" ?)

Sophie De Gelan - economy & agriculture
Sophie De Gelan - economy & agriculture
It seems that there is no money, they deal with what they have. No cattle, use women's breast milk. 
Problems and paradoxes in Herland (Réianne)
Problems and paradoxes in Herland (Réianne)
I think one of the main problems with this kind of perfect society is that they rely on a very harmful eugenics system for breeding (i.e. people presenting weaker or "deviant" characteristics are not "kept"), which reminds me of social darwinism and even a sort of nazi rhetoric... I think that the idea of achieving a perfect society by eliminating weaker beings (even getting rid of animals, for instance) is actually harmful and dangerous.
And it is a bit paradoxical since Gilman also presents the women as educators as to illustrate the defaults of the society the men live in, but actually they are the ones seen "educating" the women of Herland who are intrigued by this world they don't know; yet their own civilisation is not really perfect because despite having achieved a system in which everyone is educated, taken care of, etc., they fail to keep in mind that not everyone is able, strong and so on.  
herland
herland
organization
Scientists are men
There are civilized and 
Herland and Thomas' More's Utopia: similarities
Herland and Thomas' More's Utopia: similarities
Herland: education, motherhood, relationships
Herland: education, motherhood, relationships
Emilie Lambert - education
Emilie Lambert  - education 
Celis, Alima and Ellador are strong women, they are self-confident, intelligent and unafraid of men.
They speak another language.
Romane Sibille - motherhood
Romane Sibille - motherhood
Women control their fertility.
Not every woman can have a child,  some are not suitable. 
motherhood as a job.
they only have girls
Comfort, sisterhood, rituals
Comfort, sisterhood, rituals
Gilman's Herland: style and literary genre
Gilman's Herland: style and literary genre
3 male voices/perspectives
3 male voices/perspectives
Victor Duqué
Jeff and Terry are presented as two extremes, while Vandyck is supposed to represent a more neutral view. As a reader I was tempted to follow his view, yet those are the views of the beginning of the 20th century. I therefore identified a lot more to the ideas of the women of Herland than to the ideas of the three men. Vandyck is easier to identify to because he is less extreme than the others but he comes from a society with - nowadays - outdated views on women and their role in society.
Eléonore Hénaut - motherhood and education
Eléonore Hénaut - motherhood and education 
Women are defined by their motherhood. It looks like an achievement in their life. They are the one in control of their lives and sometimes some of them are not "suited" to become mother, kind of deviant in this society. 

Education is also not for everybody. Some women do not have the ability to raise their child as good as some others who have been trained for that purpose. 
Education is central in the book but it also looks like a constant quest for perfection. Children should received the best education possible.  
Herland: problems, paradoxes
Herland: proble

# data[].attributes.body
mals
- cat / dogs => useful
- no cattle (horses, cows,...) => no in

# data[].attributes.body
mals
- cat / dogs => useful
- no cattle (horses, cows,...) => no in

# data[].attributes.body
I think that  the romantic relationships are useless and quite paradoxical regarding the theme of the novel

# data[].attributes.headline
Océane Slegers - Wonder woman: women need to be helped by a magical tool made by a goddess and men are strong by nature

# data[].attributes.subject
Océane Slegers - Wonder woman: women need to be helped by a magical tool made by a goddess and men are strong by nature

# data[].attributes.body
The author is a woman and yet she writes so many sexist and mysogin comments on women in order to praise women ? I don't understand !

# data[].attributes.body
The women in Herland take care of everything, and the presence of these three men is depicted as almost useless, if not for educational purposes. But the three men have defined characteristics and personalities while the women are more of a big ensemble who have similar traits. (Don't have time to develop so I'll explain further later - Reianne)

# data[].attributes.body
Aure

They look masculine with their short hair + no jewels. They are also very strong and skilled. They are not afraid of anything

# data[].attributes.body
-Absence of desire,
-sex seen a a duty =

# data[].attributes.body
Herland is very critical about our society and Gilman uses a lot of irony to show things that are outrageous regarding gender roles and norms. This is shown for instance with the discussion that they have about Herland and the outside world. The men have to describe why things are the way they are in our world, to explain gender roles, and it often seems ridiculous because there are no valid reasons. And when the men think about it (except Terry), they also come to this conclusion. This is for instance what happened when Vandyck realised that masculinity and femininity weren’t natural but actually a cultural construct.

# data[].attributes.body
Leïla Dardikh - economy and agriculture:
I don't remember read

# data[].attributes.body
- in both civilization but in Herland they're active, not passive
SD

# data[].attributes.body
- Amazonian
- Greek mythology

# data[].attributes.body
different type of "weapons", or rather tools for self-defence than typically masculine ones: girdle, lasso, bracelets...

# data[].attributes.body
Herland is a feminist book and the narrator is a man. Why did the author choose for a male narrator?

# data[].attributes.body
I think that it can be considered a critical utopia because there are many contradictions.

# data[].attributes.body
- cat / dogs => useful
- no cattle (horses, cows,...) => no intensive nor extensive farming
- relationship to the animals/pets is very different
=> pragmatism
SD

# data[].attributes.body
me purpose, they seem to have different tempers (for example, Alima is very hot-tempered). Such a harmony without the slightest conflict seems impossible.
Nathan Hormidas
Nathan Hormidas
Control of sexuality through the population regulation
V
V
3 Male voices/ Perspectives Laureline
3 Male voices/ Perspectives Laureline
- Jeff = open-minded, he comes to discover but not to impose, he completely loves the society the women of Herland have build, he is really critic about his own society 
He finds peace and joy in Herland: the culture, the livestyle and I find that really amazing and mature, however I hate the fact that he feels like his original society is awful compared to Herland. He comes from this society and is a good man which means that there is something good. 
-Terry = wants to conquest. He wants to possess women. He is very mysogine. I think that it is a shame that he did not learn anything from Herland. He leaves the country as thumb as he entered it. he stays stubborn, even if I hope that he grew up. 
-Vandyck: open-minded but still critic, he is the more relatable of the three men. 


Motherhood (Barbara Louant)
What interested me the most was how society adapted around the concept of motherhood. I agree with Oceane as, in today's society, many women express their desire not to be mothers. This, in a way, still insinuate that a women without children is incomplete. Having children do not defines a woman identity. 

# data[].attributes.body
There is a birth control so there is no overpopulation because they can control it.
Women are free to control their fertility
Not every woman can have a child: some are not suitable; they are gently encouraged not to be mother. If they don’t have the good qualities.
They only have girls

# data[].attributes.body
a society made up of women is all about living in a world free of gender binaries, of having to be characterized as 'woman', 'female' and every connotation that comes with it, and rather be considered as "human" in general -- not live to please men or how they are perceived by them.

# data[].attributes.body
d sides" of men 
Jeff = fascinated by those different women and this new way of living in community 
Vandyck = he is kind of a mix of the two way of thinking, he is more "prudent"

# data[].attributes.body
The women in Herland are almost asexual, they don't have any sexual desires. They see sex as a duty necessary to reproduction, and not as a pleasure. They don't see the difference between the human sexuality and the sexuality of the animals around them. They have lived so long without sexuality (they have children with pathogenesis) that they don't understand it at all, which is frustrating for the three men whose point of view we share. Terry even tries to rape Alima at some point. The narrator, Van, considers this act "impolite" but doesn't see it as a crime because it's her husband after all (rape culture rhetoric!).

# data[].attributes.body
Terry = embodiment of the patriarchy, the "bad sides" of men
Jeff = fascinated by those different women and this new way of living in community
Vandyck = he is kind of a mix of the two way of thinking, he is more "prudent"

# data[].attributes.body
I've also read some analysis about the book and find out that the author was influenced by her life experiences. She went through different problems such as being depressed because of her physical inactivity during her pregnancy. However, we can read in this book that women are very active and athletic. It’s very interesting to see how she depicts the total opposite world in her book, how she would like it to be because of what she has been through

# data[].attributes.body
- Education is not a forcible feeding of the mind
- education but not schooling

SD

# data[].attributes.body
me purpose, they seem to have different tempers (for example, Alima is very hot-tempered). Such a harmony without the slightest conflict seems impossible.
Nathan Hormidas
Nathan Hormidas
Control of sexuality through the population regulation
V
V
3 Male voices/ Perspectives Laureline
3 Male voices/ Perspectives Laureline
- Jeff = open-minded, he comes to discover but not to impose, he completely loves the society the women of Herland have build, he is really critic about his own society 
He finds peace and joy in Herland: the culture, the livestyle and I find that really amazing and mature, however I hate the fact that he feels like his original society is awful compared to Herland. He comes from this society and is a good man which means that there is something good. 
-Terry = wants to conquest. He wants to possess women. He is very mysogine. I think that it is a shame that he did not learn anything from Herland. He leaves the country as thumb as he entered it. he stays stubborn, even if I hope that he grew up. 
-Vandyck: open-minded but still critic, he is the more relatable of the three men. 


Motherhood (Barbara Louant)
What interested me the most was how society adapted around the concept of motherhood. I agree with Oceane as, in today's society, many women express their desire not to be mothers. This, in a way, still insinuate that a women without children is incomplete. Having children do not defines a woman identity. 

# data[].attributes.body
me purpose, they seem to have different tempers (for example, Alima is very hot-tempered). Such a harmony without the slightest conflict seems impossible.
Nathan Hormidas
Nathan Hormidas
Control of sexuality through the population regulation
V
V
3 Male voices/ Perspectives Laureline
3 Male voices/ Perspectives Laureline
- Jeff = open-minded, he comes to discover but not to impose, he completely loves the society the women of Herland have build, he is really critic about his own society 
He finds peace and joy in Herland: the culture, the livestyle and I find that really amazing and mature, however I hate the fact that he feels like his original society is awful compared to Herland. He comes from this society and is a good man which means that there is something good. 
-Terry = wants to conquest. He wants to possess women. He is very mysogine. I think that it is a shame that he did not learn anything from Herland. He leaves the country as thumb as he entered it. he stays stubborn, even if I hope that he grew up. 
-Vandyck: open-minded but still critic, he is the more relatable of the three men. 


Motherhood (Barbara Louant)
What interested me the most was how society adapted around the concept of motherhood. I agree with Oceane as, in today's society, many women express their desire not to be mothers. This, in a way, still insinuate that a women without children is incomplete. Having children do not defines a woman identity. 

# data[].attributes.body
I find it incredible that this book was published so early in the 20th century because some of the ideas presented in the book — not only in regards to feminism, but in every other area as well— are still being argued over today.

# data[].attributes.headline
Emilie Lambert - 3 Male voices/Perspectives

# data[].attributes.subject
Emilie Lambert - 3 Male voices/Perspectives

# data[].attributes.body
What I found interesting is that the three male characters are totally different. Van has a relationship with Ellador that is rather equal, Terry thinks that women are subordinate to men and attempts an escape from Herland and Jeff is a rather romantic type of person, he finds Herland a paradise.

# data[].attributes.body
Having children is considered as normal. The mothers take their roles very seriously and it is as if motherhood as a central theme could be perceived. The fact that they only have daughters strongly shows that they don't need men.
I loved the fact that all children are ≠.

In the tradition, the father gives his last name to his children. However, since there are no fathers and that the community forms a sort of gigantic family, there is no need for last names. I see it as another rejection of fatherhood.

# data[].attributes.body
I think Gilman is criticising the society she lives in by showing a world where education plays a central role, while in the real world women had very little access to education.

# data[].attributes.body
- Jeff = chivalric, romantic, ideals
- Terry = aggressive, "man's man", women = game
- Van = in-between, empathy,

SD

# data[].attributes.body
Motherhood is really important to the women who live in Herland. It is close to a religion for them. Their whole word revolves around the children. At some point, there is some anti-abortion rhetoric in the book : "you surely do not destroy the unborn", says one of the women with "a look of ghastly horror".

# data[].attributes.body
The relation between the women seems a bit unrealistic to me. Even if they have the same purpose, they seem to have different tempers (for example, Alima is very hot-tempered). Such a harmony without the slightest conflict seems impossible.

# data[].attributes.body
Control of sexuality through the population regulation

# data[].attributes.body
- Jeff = open-minded, he comes to discover but not to impose, he completely loves the society the women of Herland have build, he is really critic about his own society
He finds peace and joy in Herland: the culture, the livestyle and I find that really amazing and mature, however I hate the fact that he feels like his original society is awful compared to Herland. He comes from this society and is a good man which means that there is something good.
-Terry = wants to conquest. He wants to possess women. He is very mysogine. I think that it is a shame that he did not learn anything from Herland. He leaves the country as thumb as he entered it. he stays stubborn, even if I hope that he grew up.
-Vandyck: open-minded but still critic, he is the more relatable of the three men.

# data[].attributes.body
Education is one of the most important things of the island. It is almost considered like a value. All women rely on education to expand their knowledge and, above all, to become strong educated independent women. So, the idea of independence is also very strong in Herland (even though the concept of solidarity is important too).

# data[].attributes.body
Critical utopia and sex

Actually I didn’t finish the book yet but from what I’ve already read, I feel like Gilman creates a dialogue between utopia and critical utopia. I really feel that in the dialogues, the way how men see things in relation of a patriarchal society : « this is a civilized country [...] there must be men »

In my opinion, sex or love can’t be eradicated, these are specific to the human being. There’s a passage about the reproduction and the fact that humans are mating animals. In that case, sex and love are no longer related. And I think that we can see a link with the fact that at some point women said : we are mother... I think there is social issue behind that... (sorry it’s a bit messy)

# data[].attributes.headline
Leïla Dardikh - economy and agriculture:

# data[].attributes.subject
Leïla Dardikh - economy and agriculture:

# data[].attributes.body
I don't remember reading anything about money or economy in general. The women in Herland share everything and they don't seem to have this idea of "belongings" either.
As for the agricutlure, maybe I missed something but I think they only feed on nuts and fruits that they grow in the forests and gardens since they gave up cattles which were taking too much space in their limited land. Either way, I find it hard to believe that by just eating nuts and fruits, they manage to be full of strength and energy... (not saying that you're weak if you don't eat meat at all! I know there are other aliments that give enough energy but there were no mention of special aliments other than nuts and fruits in Herland... but maybe since they are used to that alimentation, their metabolism is stronger somehow) In the end, there wasn't a big focus on the varieties of food, but we know the women of Herland take good care of the forests and gardens.

# data[].attributes.body
What interested me the most was how society adapted around the concept of motherhood. I agree with Oceane as, in today's society, many women express their desire not to be mothers. This, in a way, still insinuate that a women without children is incomplete. Having children do not defines a woman identity.

# data[].attributes.body
- stereotyped bodies? Perfect women, that all look alike.
- idea of a "pure" island, far from mischief and society horrors (it kinda made me think of colonialism; when the Europeans colonized America, they called it the "New World", as if the land was "pure" and that the people there could easily be controlled and possessed. As if they could start from scratch. I didn't read Herland tho loads of aspects we've mentionned already echo with Island, and the parallel with Wonder women - I admit I'm thinking more about the movie than the comics - is interesting).

# data[].attributes.headline
Amandine Biondaro - economy and agriculture: 

# data[].attributes.subject
Amandine Biondaro - economy and agriculture: 

# data[].attributes.body
- Agriculture is at the centre of their life
- Forest is a central place for the agricultural system
- Forest is always clean
- Food is mainly based fruits and vegetables
- Animals take too much place
- Economy is based on an equal distribution for everyone -> there is no money
- Everyone has to work at some point and period in the agricultural field (and in general in every fields)
- They only produced what they need (after the births restrictions)
- Kind of weird that they do not eat meat and that they can still work that hard.
- Women are vegan

# data[].attributes.body
(Alex. B)
I don't like the idea that men are not needed to have children.
I know it is the purpose of the story, but I feel it undermine men's role in the creation of children.
Some men already feel so in our world and I don't like it.
I like the idea that women are independent, but men also play an importnat role in creation of new humans :)
(Is it a kind of "positive discrimination" ?)

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It seems that there is no money, they deal with what they have. No cattle, use women's breast milk.

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Problems and paradoxes in Herland (Réianne)

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Problems and paradoxes in Herland (Réianne)

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I think one of the main problems with this kind of perfect society is that they rely on a very harmful eugenics system for breeding (i.e. people presenting weaker or "deviant" characteristics are not "kept"), which reminds me of social darwinism and even a sort of nazi rhetoric... I think that the idea of achieving a perfect society by eliminating weaker beings (even getting rid of animals, for instance) is actually harmful and dangerous.
And it is a bit paradoxical since Gilman also presents the women as educators as to illustrate the defaults of the society the men live in, but actually they are the ones seen "educating" the women of Herland who are intrigued by this world they don't know; yet their own civilisation is not really perfect because despite having achieved a system in which everyone is educated, taken care of, etc., they fail to keep in mind that not everyone is able, strong and so on.

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Herland and Thomas' More's Utopia: similarities

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Herland and Thomas' More's Utopia: similarities

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Women control their fertility.
Not every woman can have a child,  some are not suitable.
motherhood as a job.
they only have girls

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Celis, Alima and Ellador are strong women, they are self-confident, intelligent and unafraid of men.

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Gilman's Herland: style and literary genre

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Gilman's Herland: style and literary genre

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Victor Duqué
Jeff and Terry are presented as two extremes, while Vandyck is supposed to represent a more neutral view. As a reader I was tempted to follow his view, yet those are the views of the beginning of the 20th century. I therefore identified a lot more to the ideas of the women of Herland than to the ideas of the three men. Vandyck is easier to identify to because he is less extreme than the others but he comes from a society with - nowadays - outdated views on women and their role in society.

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Eléonore Hénaut - motherhood and education 

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Eléonore Hénaut - motherhood and education 

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Women are defined by their motherhood. It looks like an achievement in their life. They are the one in control of their lives and sometimes some of them are not "suited" to become mother, kind of deviant in this society.

Education is also not for everybody. Some women do not have the ability to raise their child as good as some others who have been trained for that purpose.
Education is central in the book but it also looks like a constant quest for perfection. Children should receive the best education possible.

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(Oceane Thény): What could be a paradox is that Gilman is an American feminist, and the world “Herland” she is describing revolves around one main element which is motherhood. Nowadays in our society, certain women are raising their voice when it comes to motherhood, saying that they do not feel the need of it. And in the book, it seems that motherhood is displayed as a kind of nirvana.

(Alice Debels) : I was really puzzled by the absence of sexual desire. Without men women could still have some. It is as if sex was useless because they could have babies without it, but sex is not only about procreation. All women should not need men to have sexual desire.
I was also not at ease with the fact that all women want to be mothers, as if it is our sole purpose in life.

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Aure Vannieuwenhuyze

There is no competition, no struggle of trade. No kings, priests, no social organisation. They were sisters who grew together by united action (not by competition).

They share a lot, they think in terms of community. They grow things together. They have no privacy, no sex, no real family, no private home

They all work the land (agriculture) : lot of composting, the soil becomes valuable.