“They Sat Down in a Council Together and Thought it Out:” Charlotte Perkins Gilman as an Anarchist Geographer in Her Novel Herland An Overview of Herland Herland was written in 1915 by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, who published a different chapter of the book every month for a year in her publication The Forerunner. The work centers on 3 male adventurers and their exploration of Herland, a utopia made up entirely of women. Gilman uses the tale as a platform to disseminate and play out her personal beliefs and socialist ideas in a humorous and entertaining way.
What is Anarchist Geography? Anarchist geography centers on the idea that the state system of governance has geographically trapped us all, and left no space for experimenting with new forms of government. Often, anarchists are falsely portrayed as advocating for a world rampant with violence and disorder. However, anarchy opposes all forms of domination, including violence, and while anarchists oppose hierarchy, they do not oppose organization. In fact, anarchy advocates for a more compassionate world, wherein people progress by working together.
Central Argument In attempting to create ideal societies, some utopian authors reflect the actions, thoughts, and beliefs of anarchist geographers. Creating a map is a political act, as is world building. While anarchist geographers believe we are bound by our geography, literary authors can overcome these bounds, and tackle real world problems, as they work within a blank space. Within that blank space, utopian authors in particular can experiment with real world possibilities and real world solutions. In this way, utopian authors not only experiment within a blank space, but often create worlds that invoke anarchist ideals. Both utopian authors and anarchist geographers imagine peaceful, inclusive worlds wherein people thrive through mutual cooperation and are free from domination. This argument is evidenced through the dramatization of anarchist ideals in Herland.
By: Jenna Reda and Supervised by Dr. Scott Harshbarger Hofstra Department of English
Ideas Shared by Gilman and Anarchist Geographers Mutual Aid: One of the central thoughts Gilman shares with anarchist geographers is an opposition to Charles Darwin’s theory of survival of the fittest. Instead of believing in Darwin’s theory, anarchist geographers and Gilman subscribe to the notion of mutual aid, which is the idea that life continues not through competition and endless struggle, but through cooperation. In Herland, the women thrive and progress by working as a unit to better their country for their daughters. Anti-Consumerism and Private Property: Anarchist geographers oppose private property and materialism, as they view private property as a tool used to gain power and exercise control over others. Gilman, as a socialist, also opposed private property, and supported communal living arrangements and a pragmatic way of life. The utopia reflects these beliefs as the Herlandians reside in shared apartment buildings and appreciate objects not for their monetary value, but for their craftsmanship. Law, Crime, and Punishment: Gilman and anarchist geographers both express a distrust of the criminal justice system and the law, viewing these systems as ineffective. Herland contains no prisons, and shows a clear preference for reformation over punishment. Also, the women have a minimal legal system and few laws, none of which are over 100 years old. Violence: Anarchist geographers oppose violence as violence is a form of domination, and the state, which has trapped us all, is tantamount to violence. Gilman’s perspective on violence is demonstrated in her book, Growth and Combat, in which she writes on how toxic masculinity fuels violence, which then oppresses society and prevents progress. In Herland, the women are so unfamiliar with violence that they do not even know to fear the threat of aggression. The Environment: The earliest anarchist geographers believed that anarchy was only possible if compassion was extended to the environment, a belief which extends to present day anarchy. Gilman’s support of a positive relationship between humans and the environment is heavily emphasized in Herland, wherein the women live in a perfectly cultivated country. As a supporter of California’s Garden Movement, Gilman supported large-scale environmental projects and incorporated the ideas behind the movement into her book. Feminism: Gilman was a progressive feminist throughout her lifetime, and anarchist geographers, in opposing all forms of domination, support feminism. Throughout the journey Gilman’s male explorers take, Gilman displays to the men how women are capable of far more than early twentieth century men believed. In a world without men, the Herlandians have created a highly industrialized and innovative country. Anarchist Emotions: Anarchy rests on ideals of love, compassion, and unity, and the male explorers movement towards embracing these emotions propels Gilman’s tale forward. On their emotional trek, as their minds are challenged time and time again, some of the men become more loving, compassionate, and collaborative people.