With Her in Ourland (1916)

KEYWORDS: animals, class, diet, domesticity, labor, meat, patriarchy, women's rights

RELATED TITLES:
Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. Herland
---. Moving the Mountain

SUMMARY (Deborah Madsen):

With Her in Ourland, the sequel to Herland (1915), continues the story by following the Herlander Ellador and her husband, Vandyck Jennings, as they tour the world of 1916, a world which through Ellador's eyes appears deeply flawed due to its patriarchal systems, war, and economic inequality. Coming from the vegan society of Herland, Ellador is shocked by the widespread exploitation of animals that she witnesses.

Throughout the novel, the cruelty inherent in meat production is critiqued and the consumption of animal flesh is presented as morally inconsistent with the ideals of gender equality and social justice. In the societies surveyed in the novel, animal products such as meat, dairy, and eggs are notably excluded from the ideal future food system. Enacting her theory that scientific management principles should be brought to food production, the novel describes communal kitchens, efficient preparation methods, and scientifically planned menus that prioritize legumes, grains, fruits, and vegetables.