Gender Roles in Fantasy Literature

Introduction

            Knights in shining armor and pink chiffon dress wearing damsels in distress are the typical representations of men and women in the fantasy genre respectively. Ironically, the stereotype of the fantasy genre is not that fantastically imaginative. This stereotype tends to bring a negative connotation from feminists and realists. Both critics despise the style of the gender portrayals within the fantasy genre, with the former finding it misogynistic and the latter an encouragement of naïve pipe dreams. However, there is more to these stereotypes and how gender roles are represented in fantasy literature. Gender roles of fantasy literature are influenced by history, biology, and societal expectations, but the characters themselves may transcend these expectations to arrive at different definition of what it means to be a man or woman.

History of gender roles

Gender roles in literature have been greatly influenced by history and culture. In fact, the theory of gender roles did not surface until after WWI. Margret Meade was the first to really outline the differences in duties and expectations between men and women (Smith). After WWI, standard gender roles were tumultuously upstaged by the lack of men returning home. The Great War experienced the greatest loss of male population, which in turn resulted in women becoming more involved in sports, work-force, politics, and increasing their independence. However, many historians would like to credit French feminism and psychoanalytic movements as great influences on the understanding of gender roles (Smith). Roe vs. Wade was also pivotal reshaping what women’s roles in society were and emancipating gender roles from biology.

Another reoccurring concept in fantasy literature is the “maiden,” which is typically a woman who is transitioning from childhood to adulthood and she is between being a daughter and becoming a wife (Sokolski).  These maidens leave their father’s house for a husband, usually go through trials and journeys, and they find the husband suited for them as prescribed by society. Joan of Arc is the most famous maiden of the feminist revolution, who embodies the fantasy genre’s concept of a maiden because she pushed the societal boundaries of her gender role. During her trial for heresy, her prosecutors were perturbed by the fact that Joan refused to wear women's clothing (Sokolski). There is also the Greek myth of Atalanta, who was a maiden huntress and the daughter of a king. She would only marry a man who was able to defeat her in a race. Although many suitors tried and failed, Hippomenes was able to win with the magical influence of the goddess Aphrodite’s golden apples.

Male roles have not changed much in history or literature except in concert to the changes in female roles. As female roles are modernized by giving women more of a leadership role, outspoken characteristics, and independence, male roles also include the more laid back male who is shy and sensitive. Currently, there is a big push in society to establish a third gender and more freedom in the definition of gender roles in homosexual contexts. There is a theory that the whole vampire fixation in modern American fantasy novels is a metaphor for homosexuality

Recent studies on gender roles

Besides basic anatomy, there are many scientific differences between male and female gender roles. In the field of psychology, there has been a lot of research on how men and women react to issues that determines their gender role and personality. As females had to step up to more leadership roles, they have developed more executive personalities. Males have reciprocally developed more passive personalities. This challenges the previously held gender roles of the male being the leader and the female the loyal follower. Studies have shown that there is a relationship between masculinity and health. Societal influence of defining manhood is directly correlated with issues such as driving, aggressive behavior, recreational drug use, sexuality, and body image (Marcos et al.). There may be more males who are more passive in personality, but society still implements the above expectations of how a male behaves and how his behavior is directly connected to his male identity. There have been many studies that have connected male behavior with perceptive identity.

However, there has not been much study on how gender roles are developed. Some scientists speculate that peer relationships in pre-pubescent children have a big influence in a young child’s gender development and adjustment (Zosuls et al.). Family life and sexual assault are also major influences on gender development. Children will likely inherit the gender roles of their parents. There was a recent study on the differences between men and women in stereotypical thinking. In general, female students disagreed more with stereotypical statements. The students' age, country origin, and mother’s level of education had impact on the outcome of the study (“Comparing Gender Awareness in Dutch and Swedish First-Year Medical Students - Results from a Questionaire”). All of these studies conclude that gender roles are largely decided by the culture and societal impact.

Gender roles of men in fantasy literature

The gender roles of men in fantasy literature can be largely summarized by the reoccurring event of the lost little boy who becomes the knight in shining armor. All of the major fantasy novels use a male as the main character.  From MacDonald’s Phantastes to Tolkein’s Hobbit, every fantasy has a male lead. They must also experience a turning point or transformation as they encounter magic. This intrinsic requirement of the lost little Bilbo Baggins “becoming a man” is the stereotype of the male gender role in a nut shell. The male lead is always expected to put away his childish selfish wants, go on a journey, and discover something more than himself. Bilbo becomes a man when he realizes the dwarves have no home and he decides to fight Smaug, despite his fear. Bilbo is representative of the young men who left their relaxed countryside hobbit holes to fight the Nazi dragon Smaug in WWII.

Edmund form C. S. Lewis’s The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe also experiences this same coming of age transition into the societal male gender role. Peter is frustrated with Edmund’s boyishness and wants him to take responsibility. Lewis masterfully shows the contrast of the once boyish, snobby, spoiled, naïve little Edmund and turns him full circle to a humble, responsible, knight in shining armor. Tristran from Stardust undergoes a similar transition as he redefines who his ideal soul mate is as he becomes more of a man himself. But what does “becoming a man” mean in fantasy literature? A knight in shining armor must be noble (cares about something more than himself), be humble (not arrogant and prideful), and be charitable (love people who are difficult to love). The last feature was most distinct in the character development of Harry Potter, especially when he tells Voldemort that he feels sorry for him because the Dark Lord does not know love.

Gender roles of women in fantasy literature

The development of female gender roles is largely influenced by history, especially considering the first fantasy novel is Victorian. However as time progresses, women in fantasy novels transition from the high society virgin Victorian women to a more modern concept of a maiden in their gender roles in fantasy literature. The distinction is that the Victorian woman is more of an ideal doll on some pedestal without a real voice but is eerily beautiful as seen in Phantastes. On the other hand, a maiden is a little more independent and a spitfire. She goes on a transformative journey herself as she is challenged until she meets her match.

Feminists would say that either way (Victorian doll or spitfire maiden) female characters in fantasy literature are still repressed. Technically, a woman reaches her potential when she leaves her father’s house and gets married to the right man (preferably the knight in shining armor). Is the pinnacle of womanhood really marriage? In contrast, the pinnacle of manhood is slaying the dragon, Voldemort, or evil witch. The whole wife business is an afterthought or unnecessary loose end.  However, the contrast between the female leads in Stardust, Victoria Forester and Yvaine, shows how marriage has two different outcomes in context. Victoria wanted to marry to be spoiled by someone who society said was higher than Tristran. Yvaine was not looking to be married and ended up falling in love with the man Tristran became. The pinnacle of Yvaine’s story is that she realizes the answer to the age old mystery of what do women want: to be loved.

Another great example of transcendence of the typical stereotype of a female gender role is Hermione Granger. Besides Yvaine, Hermione is one of the roundest characters in the fantasy genre. She is full of surprise and is not afraid go against societal rules. She punches Malfoy, lies to her professors, and stands up for herself. She is loyal to Ron and Harry, but she always makes her own decisions. She knew she was worth the respect to be asked formally to the ball and got very upset at Ron when he asked her as a last resort in an off-hand sort of way. Although the pinnacle of Hermione’s character is when she is finally in a relationship with Ron, her personality is never reduced by his presence. Hermione remains a stellar student, attacks death eaters, and voices her opinion.

Conclusion

            Although gender roles and stereotypes have a typical negative connotation in society, they are not inherently negative in the fantasy genre. Sure, it is somewhat diminutive to expect every male lead to be a knight in shining armor and every maiden to be a beautiful perfect virgin, but are these expectations separable from fantasy? Yet, none of these knights begin the story at the peak of their chivalry. They must be transformed within the fantastical journey. Only then will they be worthy of the fair maiden’s affection, who has also grown. Feminists and realists may be skeptical and dismissive, but is this not the ideal relationship? Both partners have matured, experienced trial, and learned to love. No matter what society says, gender roles in fantasy literature have give and take when they are in balance with the ideal knight and maiden model.

References:

1.     1.  Smith, Bonnie G. "Gender Theory." Encyclopedia of European Social History. Ed. Peter N. Stearns. Vol. 1: Methods & Theory/Periods/Regions, Nations, Peoples/Europe & the World. Detroit: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2001. 95-104. Gale Power Search. Web. 30  April  2014.

2.     2.  Smith, Bonnie G. "The Development of Gender History." Encyclopedia of European Social History. Ed. Peter N. Stearns. Vol. 4: Gender/Family & Ages/Sexuality/Body & Mind/Work. Detroit: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2001. 3-13. Gale Power Search. Web. 30 April 2014.

3.      3. Sokolski, Patticia. "Maiden." Encyclopedia of Sex and Gender. Ed. Fedwa Malti-Douglas. Vol. 3. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2007. 924-925. Gale Power Search. Web. 1 May 2014.

4.      Marcos, Jorge Marcos et al. “Performing Masculinity, Influencing Health: A Qualitative Mixed-Methods Study of Young Spanish Men.” Global Health Action 6.0 (2013): n. pag. CrossRef. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.

5.      Zosuls, Kristina M. et al. “Gender Development Research in Sex Roles: Historical Trends and Future Directions.” Sex Roles 64.11-12 (2011): 826–842. CrossRef. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.

6.      “Comparing Gender Awareness in Dutch and Swedish First-Year Medical Students - Results from a Questionaire.” N. p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.