I laughed when I finally understood what the handout Ms. Aaland gave us was really about. At first, I thought it was a small man speaking and most of the men of Whileway was short because of natural selection. Then I realized that this small man was actually a woman! Jeez old man, that was weird for me. I also thought that the women who were mating were each other found a strange was of fertilizing the egg. I still don't understand it either. Can can you fertilize an egg without the sperm? I swear, Ms. Aaland has us reading some crazy things about gender/reproduction. I thought this was almost as strange as The Left Hand of Darkness. The only difference for me was that the Gethenians were able to change sex while the women used science to reproduce.
I also saw this short story as very feminist. The author made the guys out to be lustful freaks that wanted to, well, you know with the women that were left on Earth. I just felt that the author wanted to portray the men as society usually does. Dominating, tall, and well built. I can understand why since these were the only men left after generations upon generations, but still. I didn't find it fair for the men.
I also thought that why couldn't the women mate the guys anyways? I mean, that's the way it was truly meant to be. I'm not saying that I have a problem with lesbians or gays for that matter. I mean, just because this couple doesn't want to be with men and nor do their daughter, but there has to be other women out there who are more than curious to be with a guy.
I don't know if the author really wanted the readers to see the story the way I did, but reading it sure did piss me off. I really do hate when people like to stick to stereotypes...
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