A gender novel is a genre of novel that features gender, or the concept of gender, as a central theme to the plot of the novel. The concept of gender may be used to initiate debate regarding gender stereotypes, gender equality or the reversal of gender roles within books. This term is synonymous with gendered fiction. Gender novels may be categorized not only under the genre of gendered fiction but crime, novel of manners, romance novels, western novels, fantasy, and science-fiction.
A gender novel is characterised by the central theme of gender, which is exhibited in the plot, by characters, or within the context of the novel. This involves the inclusion of transgender or androgynous characters, and the challenging of traditional gender roles. Another central theme is the development of gender-focused conflicts throughout the plot, particularly through settings where gender is written in a way that is controversial to the societal norms of the period of writing. Gender novels may also fall into the category of feminist literature.
Famous gender novels include Ursula K. Le Guin's Left Hand of Darkness, Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Naomi Alderman's The Power and Markus Zusak's The Book Thief. Many of these gender novels have been critically acclaimed for challenging of gender roles and expectations
Gender novels as a contemporary genre have their foundations in the late 1940s. Later on, in the 21st century, the works of Jeffrey Eugenides, Jeff Garvin and Jessica Herthel broke stereotypical gender norms and attempted to warp traditionalist gender views.
Background
History of gender in literature up until the 19th century
Until the 19th century, literature reflected the gender roles of the time period. Throughout the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, traditional gender roles were enforced. Women were required to wear, act and behave a certain way both in public and in the private home. Prior to the 17th century, men would play women's roles in old Shakespearean plays and musicals. Cross-gender acting is seen as evidence of the fact that women were not typically included or invited to participate in the arts, literature and musical theatrics.
Throughout the 17th century, women were primarily viewed as caretakers and homemakers. Women were discouraged from expressing their opinion about politics, money and other contemporary issues. Due to their overall submissive role, most literature that was produced during this time centered around male characters. The women who were educated and capable of writing were discouraged from pursuing their talent. During the 18th century, women were still seen as submissive. However, the beginning of the cultural revolution in Britain brought about changes to the roles of women. Women were more frequently assisting their husbands in work and had greater access to education. Throughout the cultural revolution, women were still victims of both economic and social discrimination. Their career choices were restricted to marriage, motherhood, nursing or teaching, with their primary roles being child-bearers and wives. Literature still primarily focused on men, reflecting the constructs of traditional gender roles. Nevertheless, works such as John Dryden's prose Absalom and Achitophel have depicted an 18th-century perception of masculinity and the role of women.
Although the 19th century brought about romanticism in literature, it was still a period where women weren't as valued as highly as men. This was shown through literary works by Mary Virginia, who was an American novelist during the 19th century. She wrote of the suppression of and inferior public attitude towards women, in which she says, that to a man, "women are ... valued according to the amount of hard usage she will endure". Her literature, which is some of the first feminist writings, reflects the gradual uprising against the patriarchy during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Gender novels in the 20th century
In the 20th century, movements such as feminism made their presence during the latter half of the century. This is reflected in the emergence of gender novels during this time period, some of the most important being Simone De Beauvoir's The Second Sex and Ursula K. Le Guin's Left Hand of Darkness. These novels shed light on new concepts regarding the gender construct and envisioned new theories and definitions surrounding gender and how it impacts the human person.