Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series (Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber, Voyager, Drums of Autumn, The Fiery Cross, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, An Echo in the Bone, and Written in my Own Heart’s Blood) tells the story of the love between Claire Randall (a 20th century English woman) and Jamie Fraser (an 18th century Highland Scotsman) and their adventures together when he is transported through time by a circle of Scottish standing stones. Granted that Claire moves from the sexism of 1945 to the sexism of 1743 and then from the sexism of 1968 to the sexism of 1766, but the novels reinforce the prevalent toxic masculinization of female sexuality. There is some effort to show Claire’s sexual needs and responses as different from Jamie’s, but overwhelmingly Claire’s sexual pleasure and satisfaction are fulfilled the same way that Jamie’s are. Additionally, there is a possessiveness that Jamie expresses for Claire that is disturbing. Claire is his: “You are mine!” While this might be a conceivable 18th century notion of a husband toward his wife, it is disturbing coming from a 21st century female author in envisioning a healthy romantic relationship between a man and a woman.
About the presenterKathleen Murphey
Kathleen Murphey is an Associate Professor in Community College of Philadelphia’s English Department. She presents regularly at MAPACA conferences. In addition to academic writing, Dr. Murphey has been doing some creative writing. Some of work has been published through The Voices Project (http://www.thevoicesproject.org/) and Writing in a Woman’s Voice (http://writinginawomansvoice.blogspo...). More information about her work can be found at www.kathleenmurphey.com.