why all woman's studies classes should include John Varley

One of the best things about science-fiction is the gender bending. I would argue that Virginia Wolff's Orlando is science fiction and I would start with that. If you haven't read it, add it to your list of classics to read before you die. Not because it will inherently improve your life, but because it will make your mind drip out of your ears! In a good way!

Lots of great authors in science-fiction have tackled the lines between men and women face on. And the great thing about it, is a lot of them were men! And they were compassionate and insightful! Not Heinlein, who I hate more then...well a lot of other writers, but again that's for another post.

Take for instance, Asimov's most beloved characters Dr.Susan Calvin. She was not pretty or huge bosomed and she chose work over being a wife and mother. Described as generally crabby and nasty, she was one of the first depicted female scientists that wasn't the sidekick to the male scientist. LOVE THE SUSAN.

And then...oh and then in modern science fiction there is the best beloved, most awesome, most perfect gender crazed writer who I cannot praise enough from here to the end of time: John Varley. He has a universe in which many of his short stories and novels are placed referred to as the Eight Worlds. Within the Eight Worlds, gender swapping surgery is nearly as easy as buying clothes. Not only does he explore the psychological and sociological implications of such a thing, he does over a long period of time! He starts a few short stories about the beginning days of this surgery as the first non-transsexuals start to switch back and forth. By the Golden Globe (the latest in the Eight Worlds universe) appears, switching is so common as to be unremarkable and it has recreated a lot basic attitudes in people as a whole.

Brilliant stuff. I would much rather have read some of that instead of "The Cyborg Manifesto" which I had to read in every single class I was in that discusses Women and/or Gender Studies in any way. If you, dear reader, can make it all the way through that essay and then tell me what it means, I will make you the bake good of your choice.

Catch you on the flipside,
CGL