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Addressing the story's gender bias
The short story, YMOMTetragram for The Young Man and the Old Man [X], was originally written in 1983, well before i, vic smyth, Read FAQ 'Why does vic smyth use all lowercase letters?' [X]
had any understanding of the concept of gender equality. However, as i was recently listening to the audiobook,
i cringed at some of the gender-biased statements. So i decided to read through the entire story paying careful
attention to what edits needed to be made to make the story more gender neutral. But after reading it,
and especially after listening to Heather's brilliant narrationClick the Audiobook menu item to hear excerpts [X] of it, i decided to keep YMOM
unchanged from the original, hand-written draft.
Why?
The blatant gender bias in the story, a clear sign of the patriarchal culture that the Young Man and the Old Man live in, highlights its inherent flaws. Also, a careful reading of Chapter 2Click the Read Samples button at bottom of page to read excerpt of Chapter 2 [X] and Chapter 10 shows that it is Woman with her sound ReasonReminiscent of Sophia in Greek mythology who is connected to the different incarnations of sacred female wisdom [X] who is the real Hero of the story.
Let me explain.
We start with chapter 1 which is what the Young Man is reading in the Holy Book of ONE. It closely follows the Genesis chapter 1 creation story. In Genesis, God is gender neutral until God creates mankind in His image and likeness. From that point on, God is referred to with male pronouns throughout the remainder of the Bible. In our story, God, referred to as ONEInspired by the Neoplatonist Plotinus' concept of One [X], is completely gender neutral/free throughout the entire story.
Chapter 2Click the Read Samples button at bottom of page to read excerpt of Chapter 2 [X] in YMOM is also a part of what the Young Man was reading. It closely follows Genesis chapters 2 and 3 about the creation of Adam and Eve and their Fall from the Garden of Eden. In our story, it's Man and Woman and their separation from ONE and the Good Land of ONE.
Comparing the two accounts: In Genesis a crafty serpent beguiles Eve, then Eve convinces Adam. When God (a rather anthropomorphic God, i might add) confronts Adam with breaking His commandment of not eating from the forbidden tree, Adam blames Eve, Eve blames the serpent. Note that before the separation in YMOM it is Man who has the idea to separate. Woman plays the role of sound Reason and cautions Man against it. But Man insists. After they separate from ONE, it is Woman who advocates that they should call to ONE for help. It is Woman who gives gratitude to ONE when provision is found. Man, in his hubris and arrogance, does not recognize ONE's help. Man believes that he is self sufficient and does not need ONE. And, although Woman goes along with Man subserviently, she is the one who blames Man for his idea to separate in the first place.
In the final chapter, it is Woman who once again plays the role of sound Reason (though i will not reveal the ultimate spoiler).
And so YMOM shows that the dominant and arrogant role of Man, all characteristics of patriarchy, is one of the ill effects of the separation from ONE and the Good Land of ONE. Had Man listened to Woman's sound Reason they could have returned to ONE and the Good Land of ONE at any time. Indeed, had Man listened to Woman's sound Reason they would have never separated from ONE in the first place.
And so the gender bias in YMOM, though it makes me cringe at times, serves a purpose to highlight the shortfalls of patriarchy and the unsung role of sacred feminine wisdom.
Why?
The blatant gender bias in the story, a clear sign of the patriarchal culture that the Young Man and the Old Man live in, highlights its inherent flaws. Also, a careful reading of Chapter 2Click the Read Samples button at bottom of page to read excerpt of Chapter 2 [X] and Chapter 10 shows that it is Woman with her sound ReasonReminiscent of Sophia in Greek mythology who is connected to the different incarnations of sacred female wisdom [X] who is the real Hero of the story.
Let me explain.
We start with chapter 1 which is what the Young Man is reading in the Holy Book of ONE. It closely follows the Genesis chapter 1 creation story. In Genesis, God is gender neutral until God creates mankind in His image and likeness. From that point on, God is referred to with male pronouns throughout the remainder of the Bible. In our story, God, referred to as ONEInspired by the Neoplatonist Plotinus' concept of One [X], is completely gender neutral/free throughout the entire story.
Chapter 2Click the Read Samples button at bottom of page to read excerpt of Chapter 2 [X] in YMOM is also a part of what the Young Man was reading. It closely follows Genesis chapters 2 and 3 about the creation of Adam and Eve and their Fall from the Garden of Eden. In our story, it's Man and Woman and their separation from ONE and the Good Land of ONE.
Comparing the two accounts: In Genesis a crafty serpent beguiles Eve, then Eve convinces Adam. When God (a rather anthropomorphic God, i might add) confronts Adam with breaking His commandment of not eating from the forbidden tree, Adam blames Eve, Eve blames the serpent. Note that before the separation in YMOM it is Man who has the idea to separate. Woman plays the role of sound Reason and cautions Man against it. But Man insists. After they separate from ONE, it is Woman who advocates that they should call to ONE for help. It is Woman who gives gratitude to ONE when provision is found. Man, in his hubris and arrogance, does not recognize ONE's help. Man believes that he is self sufficient and does not need ONE. And, although Woman goes along with Man subserviently, she is the one who blames Man for his idea to separate in the first place.
In the final chapter, it is Woman who once again plays the role of sound Reason (though i will not reveal the ultimate spoiler).
And so YMOM shows that the dominant and arrogant role of Man, all characteristics of patriarchy, is one of the ill effects of the separation from ONE and the Good Land of ONE. Had Man listened to Woman's sound Reason they could have returned to ONE and the Good Land of ONE at any time. Indeed, had Man listened to Woman's sound Reason they would have never separated from ONE in the first place.
And so the gender bias in YMOM, though it makes me cringe at times, serves a purpose to highlight the shortfalls of patriarchy and the unsung role of sacred feminine wisdom.
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