Exploring Gender

When we began discussing Kindred last week, we compiled a brief list of the broader social themes that the story touches on, such as violence and race and gender inequality. Although we briefly discussed the gender dynamics that place men in a more authoritative role when we noted Kevin’s request for Dana to type his manuscripts, we didn’t go very far past that in our class discussions. While reading, I found the gender dynamics very interesting, so as I thought more about male and female roles in the novel, I began to consider the implications for the storyline if our main character Dana had been a black man instead of a black woman.

Based on her experiences in the 1800’s, Dana’s objective of time travel, of ensuring Hagar’s birth, would have been much more difficult to accomplish. As a man, who for this purpose we can call “Dane,” his relationships with others would be completely different from Dana’s relationships. Assuming there is only a gender shift, and Dane still has Dana’s characteristics; independent, intelligent, and altruistic, Dane would be seen as more of a threat than Dana was. Tom Weylin likely would have felt personally threatened by Dane, and consequently, would have either sold Dane to a slave trader, in which case the story would become nonexistent, or Dane would have been put to work in the fields with most of the other males. In Dana’s story, we witnessed a huge increase in the level of violence present when Dana was put to work in the fields for a day. So if Dana had been a man, it is likely that the story would have been much more violent physically, which would have the implication of shifting the reader’s attention away from the purpose of Dane’s visit, and instead toward the horrors of the time period.

As a man, Dane’s relationship with Alice would be extremely different from Dana’s. In Kindred, we witness a trusting, comfortable relationship between Alice and Dana because their experiences as black, female slaves bring them closer together. Alice would likely not have this same relationship with Dane because after Alice’s separation from Isaac, she became withdrawn and sullen. Without the understanding that is tied to being a female slave, which brought Dana and Alice together, Dane would have a more difficult time trying to establish a relationship with Alice. But he would still attempt to establish a relationship with her, because like Dana, Dane believes that in order for Alice to bear Hagar, Dane must intervene to somehow bring Rufus and Alice together.

Dane’s relationship with Rufus can then also be seen in different ways. We know that Rufus feels threatened if a man attempts to get too close to a woman he loves; we witnessed this when he sold Sam for flirting with Dana. Therefore, we may surmise that if Dane tried to establish a relationship with Alice, whom Rufus loves, Dane may have been sold in a way similar to Sam. Dane would have been sold south, and may not have ensured Hagar’s birth (which he believes is his purpose is for being transported to the 1800’s). As a male, Dane is far more threatening, and this would definitely affect his relationship with Rufus further. Once Rufus is an adult, the presence of an independent, intelligent male slave would be more intimidating than a female slave. At this time, men had power over women, so Rufus was less likely to feel threatened by Dana’s presence. Despite her intelligence and independence, she was still a woman, which meant that Rufus ultimately had the upper hand, and could enforce that power without worry. Rufus may be more intimidated by Dane however, because although Rufus had the power that comes with being a slave master, he would not have power associated with gender. If Dane were to challenge Rufus’ power as master, Rufus could not fall back on his power as a man, like he could in Dana’s presence. Rufus may recognize this as a possibility in Dane’s presence, and may therefore be less likely to trust Dane, as he would have Dana.

In Kindred, Dana’s relationships with others is vital to her success at perpetuating her ancestral lineage, as she tells Kevin she needs to “make a haven for herself” in the south, and that she needs to have a good relationship with others so that when she returns, she can rely on these people, and ensure Hagar’s birth. If Dana was a man however, we can guess that her relationships with key people such as Alice and Rufus would not be as positive. Dane would then have to work much harder to establish positive relationships in order to maintain his own existence, through Hagar’s birth. Perhaps we can then conclude that if Dana had been a man, it would have been much more difficult to perpetuate the family line.

However, in class we also discussed that ensuring Hagar’s birth was not the only reason Dana had travelled south. Dana not only repeatedly ensured her own existence, but realized her reality. Through her interactions with characters, especially Rufus, Dana learned about her role(s) in the south, and therefore slowly realized her own reality. I believe that even if Dana had been a man, “Dane” still would have accomplished this goal. Although his relationships with characters would have been different, they still would have indicated Dale’s reality. Even if that reality is not the same as Dana’s, like Dana, Dale would learn about his role in the south through interacting with others, and therefore recognize his own reality.

Switching Dana’s gender would undoubtedly change the story. There are infinitely many relationships to be examined, and many subtleties that could influence the text. In a very general case, I believe that unlike Dana, it would be much harder for Dane to ensure Hagar’s birth. However, like Dana, Dane would still be able to recognize his reality. Seeing how just one change can effect a story so vastly, it’s hard to imagine what may happen if we were to change multiple facets of the story.