Dystopian novels follow a frightening downfall in society. The genre explores all types of disasters, from environmental catastrophes to government failure. Dystopias are typically used to draw attention to modern day political issues. Authors depict dystopian worlds so that a reader can draw connections between a text’s dystopia and their own modern world. The genre uses pathos to hook onto a readers sense of insecurity, to project the dangers of the dystopia into the reader’s world. This emotional approach has made the dystopian genre a tactical weapon in exploring political motives. Feminism is one of the political movements that have been followed closely in dystopian novels. Texts like Red Cloaks by Leni Zuma, The Power by Naomi Alderman, and An Excess Male by Maggie Shen King explore the dangers of a world without equality. The texts reintroduce us to the importance of the feminist movement.
Red Cloaks by Leni Zuma tells us about a world all too familiar. The text ties directly into current conservative policies. The story takes place in a society where a radical conservative party has been voted into the presidency. The new president’s first passed bill gives a fertilized egg the same rights as any citizen of the United States. Meaning at conception the fertilized egg has the rights to life and liberty. Abrotion and in vitro fertilization are now illegal. On top of this, another bill is soon passed which allows only married couples to adopt. Red Cloaks explores the life of 5 different women with these dangerous anti-women laws coming into place. Ro is a single woman in her 40s who wants a child desperately. Mattie is a young teenage girl, who is pregnant. Susan is a married mother of two tiring of her everyday life. Gin is an outsider, who lives in the woods and acts as a healer. Lastly, is Eivor Minervudottir a character is Ro’s book who is a 19th century explorer. These are five very different characters, giving the reader a wide perspective of this conservative world. From the perspective of Mattie, we can see the affects of laws that equate abortion to murder. Gin shows us the difficult decisions of healthcare professionals who must choose between their morals or the law. With Susan and Ro we see the negative effects of forcing marriage on women. The dystopian world Zuma creates is more than familiar, it's uncomfortably possible. Red Cloaks forces us to look at the dangers of reproduction controlling laws in a different light. It reminds feminists of why fighting these conservative policies is so important. Also, it encourages pro-life supporters to look at this issue as something much larger than just abortion itself. Novels like Red Cloaks use emotional connections with characters and scenes to open the reader up to a whole new political perspective
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The Power by Naomi Alderman takes a much different approach to the dystopia genre. Instead of creating a realistic future, The Power uses science fiction to project metaphorical feminist themes. Alderman's novel explores a futuristic world where women are given the power to physically dominate men by shooting electricity from their hands. Women are becoming the dominant gender. Just as Red Cloaks did, The Power utilizes characters of all different backgrounds to explore every angle of this changing world, however Alderman uses both male and female characters to do so. The female characters allow women readers to see what it is like to have control. For example, when a man harrases a young woman in a store she can take control of the situation and zap him, instead of just hoping he will eventually leave her alone. Women readers can see what it would be like to live in a world where they no longer have to fear the male agenda. Male characters show us the dangers of power. As time passes women stop just fighting the injustices they once faced, instead they begin forcing those injustices on men. The male characters take witness to the sexist behavior that used to be forced on women. This introduces male readers to the unfair treatment women face in our current society. Alderman uses the varying perspectives in this dystopian fantasy to remind readers of the true meaning of feminism. Feminism is gender equality, not female domination.
An Excess Male by Maggie Shen King falls into the same dystopian category as Red Cloaks, but focuses on a different possible reality. Maggie Shen King focuses on China’s one-child policy, which has caused an increase in the percentage of males and, therefore, a decrease in the percentage of women. The novel explores a society where there is an excess of unmarried men, which the government has rearranged to help. In fact, now it is encouraged for multiple men to marry one woman. Due to this, the main female character, May-ling, has been raised as an object, something to be bought and sold to the unmarried men. King explores the dangers of controlling reproductive rights. In this scenario neither men nor women thrive. This novel projects a society so familiar, that it is meant to make readers uncomfortable. Just as Red Cloaks did, An Excess Male uses the sensitivity and uncomfortable nature of the novel to draw attention to a political statement.
Red Cloaks by Leni Zuma, The Power by Naomi Alderman, and An Excess Male by Maggie Shen King all show different ways in which feminist messages are sent through dystopian novels. Red Cloaks and An Excess Male project everyday realities into a future world to show the dangers of what those realties could become. On the other end of the dystopian spectrum, The Power creates an unrealistic future society that sends a feminist message with methaphorical means. Both writing tactics use storytelling and character connections to communicate with the reader. Overall, the dystopian genre allows femsinist writers a way to explore the dangers of a world without equality.
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