In the book Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, the author closely follows the guidelines of Realism novels in that her book features a power struggle between men and women. During Realism, it was believed that men were far superior to women, and that men could control women, who were expected to obey their husbands and other men. Herland details the story of a group of men who adventure into a female Utopia with the preconceived notion that since the island is rather impressive in its level of civilization, there must be men there running the island. In the beginning of the book, the author shows the beliefs of superiority through some of the men's impulsive decision to venture into the island without preparing for conflict with the women. Despite the tour guides warning that it was "Dangerous, deadly, for any man to go there," and that it was a "strange country where no men lived-only women and girl children," the curiosity and proudness amongst the men led them to explore the island.
The fact that the men intruded the women's land shows that there was still an idea of male chauvinism present in society. The group of men are leery about going to the island not because of the women, but because of the threat of men that may be there. Jeff says, "There may be a contingent of gentlemen with poisoned arrows or something"(Gilman, 6). This shows that the men are weary about facing men, but not women. However, as the day that they go to the island gets closer, they start to realize that the women may be a bigger threat than they thought. When they reach the island, they see women and the trees moving gracefully and fearlessly. After the encounter with the women, Terry expresses his lusting of the women, saying, "Mother of Mike, boys- what Gorgeous Girls! To climb like that! To run like that! And afraid of nothing. This country suits me all right. Let's get ahead"(Gilman, 15). Terry's remark reveals that men are attracted to women if they will be of assistance or provide pleasure to them. The changing view that the men have of the women on the island represent the slow change from a misogynist society to one where assumptions about women are struck down and their true value is able to be seen by all people.
