'Gender-Bending' Science Fiction. Phd Thesis, James Cook University
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This file is part of the following reference: Wight, Linda (2009) Talking about men: conversations about masculinities in recent ‘gender-bending’ science fiction. PhD thesis, James Cook University. Access to this file is available from: http://eprints.jcu.edu.au/11566 TALKING ABOUT MEN: CONVERSATIONS ABOUT MASCULINITIES IN RECENT ‘GENDER-BENDING’ SCIENCE FICTION Thesis submitted by Linda WIGHT BA (Hons) Qld in June 2009 for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the School of Arts and Social Sciences James Cook University STATEMENT OF ACCESS I, the undersigned, author of this work, understand that James Cook University will make this thesis available for use within the University Library and, via the Australian Digital Theses network, for use elsewhere. I understand that, as an unpublished work, a thesis has significant protection under the Copyright Act and I do not wish to place any further restriction on access to this thesis. Linda Wight Date ii STATEMENT OF SOURCES DECLARATION I declare that this thesis is my own work and has not been submitted in any form for another degree or diploma at any university or other institution of tertiary education. Information derived from the published or unpublished work of others has been acknowledged in the text and a list of references is given. Linda Wight Date iii STATEMENT ON THE CONTRIBUTION OF OTHERS Financial assistance for this project was obtained from the following sources: Stipend: Australian Postgraduate Award James Cook University 31 January 2005 – 30 July 2008 Grant: Graduate Research Scheme Faculty of Arts, Education and Social Science James Cook University $3000.00 for travel, accommodation and other expenses associated with presenting papers at two conferences in the United States. March 2006 Linda Wight Date iv DECLARATION ON ETHICS The research presented and reported in this thesis was conducted within the guidelines for research ethics outlined in the National Statement on Ethics Conduct in Research Involving Humans (1999), the Joint NHMRC/AVCC Statement and Guidelines on Research Practice (1997), the James Cook University Policy on Experimentation Ethics, Standard Practices and Guidelines (2001), and the James Cook University Statement and Guidelines on Research Practice (2001). The proposed research methodology received clearance from the James Cook University Experimentation Ethics Review Committee (approval number H2232). Linda Wight Date v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This thesis would not have been completed without the support and assistance of many people. Especial thanks are due: First and foremost to my principal supervisor, Dr Sylvia Kelso, who continually challenged me to question, and to strive to push my intellectual boundaries. Her wealth of expertise, generosity, honesty and unflagging support are gratefully appreciated. To my associate supervisor, Associate Professor Cheryl Taylor, whose encouragement, belief and practical advice sustained me during periods of self-doubt. To other academic staff, past and present, of the School of Arts & Social Sciences at James Cook University, for their constructive feedback and ongoing support. Also to the administrative staff, whose practical help was invaluable. To my postgraduate cohort at James Cook University. In particular to Shirley McLean, Jane Frugtneit, Gillian Barrett, Tania Honey, Nola Kuilboer and Agnes Hannan who offered friendship and unfailing encouragement. To the members of the Fem-SF listserv and Science Fiction Research Association who provided inspiration and valuable guidance. Especially to the Tiptree Award jurors who generously volunteered their time and expertise. To my parents, Bill and Mary, who taught me that I could achieve anything I dreamed, and to my sister, Dianne, for her love and friendship. Finally, to the friends who have touched my life over the past four years. Especially to Daniello Cuda, Brian King, Lee Kynaston and Natalie Simmons, who never stopped believing. vi * * * Part of Chapter 2: “Separatism and Beyond” was published as “The Matter of Reconciliation in Ursula K. Le Guin’s ‘The Matter of Seggri’” in the Paradoxa: Special Le Guin Issue 21 (2008). Part of Chapter 4: “Masculinist Science and Made Men” was published as “Piercy’s Gendered Cyborgs: Hope, Threat, and Blurred Boundaries” in The WisCon Chronicles: Volume 1 . Ed. L. Timmel Duchamp, 2007. Elements of Chapter 4 were also published as “Magic, Art, Religion, Science: Blurring the Boundaries of Science and Science Fiction in Marge Piercy’s Cyborgian Narrative” in When Genres Collide . Ed. Thomas J. Morrissey and Oscar De Los Santos, 2007. vii ABSTRACT Science fiction is often called the literature/genre of ideas, while SF writers and readers are also seen to function as a highly engaged and conversant community. Within this community, ideas can generate an ongoing conversation between science fiction texts and authors, as well as among readers, convention attendees, academics and, of late, web communities. Often the conversation concerns gender or, more specifically, how science fiction texts represent gender, including masculinities. Yet critical discussion of fictional constructions of masculinities in science fiction has been limited. This thesis addresses this gap through in-depth literary analysis of ten science fiction short stories and novels which participate in an ongoing conversation about ideas of masculinity. The selected texts have either won or been shortlisted for the James Tiptree, Jr. Award. One primary reason for choosing these texts is that, since 1991, the Tiptree Award has been presented annually to a science fiction or fantasy short story or novel that, “expands or explores our understanding of gender” (Tiptree ). This thesis applies both feminist and masculinities theory to the chosen texts, as well as some postcolonial and queer perspectives, to show that although science fiction has been at the cutting edge of fictional explorations of gender as concerning women, it currently lags behind contemporary theorists in its exploration of masculinities. On the one hand, the majority of the selected Tiptree Award texts offer convincing and thoughtful critiques of certain hegemonic masculine identities, including the warrior and the scientist. Hegemonic masculinity is likewise a central concern for leading masculinities theorists, such as R.W. Connell, Lynne Segal and Michael S. Kimmel, but along with Carole Pateman, Ellen Jordan and Angela Cowan, these theorists identify the civil narrative of masculinity as the currently dominant construction in most Western societies. The majority of the selected Tiptree Award science fiction texts avoid close engagement with this narrative, in favour of critiquing older versions of masculinity. viii Another key concern for contemporary masculinities theorists is the notion of “multiple masculinities.” Although the male characters portrayed in the chosen science fiction texts are mostly white, straight and middle-to-upper class, some of the writers do add to the conversation about masculinities by also exploring masculinities that vary from the hegemonic norm in terms of class, race and sexual orientation/performance. Thus, despite some limitations, the Tiptree Award texts indicate an ongoing attempt to engage with and build on earlier science fiction that used the same tropes, and to question, modify and expand upon their depictions of men and masculinities. ix TABLE OF CONTENTS Statement of Access ii Statement of Sources iii Statement on the Contribution of Others iv Declaration on Ethics v Acknowledgements vi Abstract viii Table of Contents x CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1 Masculinities Studies 2 The James Tiptree, Jr. Award 9 Form 19 CHAPTER 2: SEPARATISM AND BEYOND 24 Critical Reactions to Separatist SF 25 The Development of the Separatist Trope in SF 28 The Tiptree Award Texts: “The Matter of Seggri” and “Boys” 36 Conclusion 54 CHAPTER 3: ROLE REVERSAL AND BEYOND 56 Critical Reactions to Role Reversal SF 57 The Development of the Role Reversal Trope in SF 60 The Tiptree Award Texts: The Conqueror’s Child and “Stories for Men” 66 Conclusion 86 CHAPTER 4: MASCULINIST SCIENCE AND MADE MEN 89 Feminist Critiques of Masculinist Science 90 Critical Reactions to Science and Scientists in SF 97 The Development of the “Made Man” Trope in SF 103 The Tiptree Award Texts: He, She and It and The Memoirs of Elizabeth Frankenstein 112 The Memoirs of Elizabeth Frankenstein 113 He, She and It 122 Conclusion 132 x CHAPTER 5: THE HERMAPHRODITE 135 The Hermaphrodite in Gender Theory 136 The Hermaphrodite in Myth and Literature 139 The Hermaphrodite in Society 142 The Hermaphrodite in SF 146 The Tiptree Award Texts: “Motherhood, Etc.” and “Eat Reecebread” 153 Conclusion 169 CHAPTER 6: THE ALIEN OTHER 172 Critical Reactions to the Alien in SF 174 Alien Sex in SF 178 The Tiptree Award Texts: Ring of Swords and The Sparrow 185 The Sparrow 185 Ring of Swords 201 Conclusion 212 CONCLUSION: THE CONVERSATION CONTINUES 214 Works Cited 226 Works Consulted 249 Appendix: Informed Consent Form signed by Tiptree Award Jurors interviewed for this thesis 265 xi CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION In 2003, Helen Merrick wrote, “there remains much critical work to be done on constructions of masculinity in s[cience] f[iction]” (251) (hereafter “SF”). Masculinities studies is a relatively recent theoretical field which has focused on the depiction of hegemonic and other masculinities in popular culture, film and fiction in general, and it is therefore an ideal theoretical basis for critical work in this neglected area.