Although Le Guin didn't set out to attack men, she doesn't have a ton of nice things to say about men in general.
It's her belief that many of society's ills can be blamed on the aggressive, competitive nature of men, and their homogenous leadership of the world. She doesn't do this to be mean or derogatory. At least, we don't think so. (After all, women can be aggressive and competitive, too.)
In "A Left-Handed Commencement," she's just trying to point out the struggles that women have had to fight against to have their perspectives heard and valued in a society that has traditionally marginalized its female members.
Questions About Men and Masculinity
- What is the nickname she gives to the nameless, faceless men in her address? Is it a dismissive gesture, or a rhetorical device?
- According to Le Guin, what are the dominant male traits that are emphasized in our society? Does she see these traits as negative or positive?
- What was going on leading up to 1983 that made Le Guin feel so oppressed by men? Does she provide any specific examples or insinuations?
Chew on This
Based on her choice of the word "Machoman" to describe the common man, we can only assume Le Guin was a huge Village People fan.
Le Guin feels like men have purposefully oppressed women throughout history, and it's time to put an end to it.