Depiction of Women in Flowers for Algernon and Johnny Mnemonic Essay (Essay Sample)

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Depiction of Women in Flowers for Algernon and Johnny Mnemonic
Introduction
In spite of the countless contributions of women in society, the representation of female characters in science fiction has been the subject of criticism and controversy over the years. As there are a handful of iconic female heroines in this genre, women are profoundly portrayed as either naïve ingénues or lone strong individuals with masculine characteristics. Besides, Science fiction has become increasingly obsessed with alien species and robot automation to the extent that real women are marginalized or even omitted altogether. Primarily, there are many differences and similarities between the short story “Flowers for Algernon” and “Johnny Mnemonic” regarding the way women are represented (Keyes 285). Daniel Keyes’ Flower for Algernon presents the life of a man who gets an operation that would make him smarter while William Gibson’s Johnny Mnemonic presents a data trafficker who survives death and turns into a blackmailer.
Damsel in Distress
Despite the sex of the authors in the two fictions, most Science fiction short stories have male protagonists and the most recurring theme is the “damsel in distress.” Over half of the human race is female; however, science fiction exalts male characters and makes them more audible as opposed to the few and reserved female voices. It is worth noting that this genre developed in a patriarchal culture and its chief audience was men. In this sense, it is unsurprising that female protagonists in science fictions are few. Besides, women are typically defined by their relationship to the male characters and their main objective is to validate the hero as acceptably masculine. As an example, women are defined as objects to be desired or feared, such as Molly in Johnny Mnemonic and Miss Kinnian in Flowers for Algernon. In some cases, women are depicted as objects to be rescued or destroyed, typical of the character of Charlie’s mother and Mrs. Flynn in the Flowers for Algernon.
On the other hand, women are not only underrepresented in science fiction but also less likely to be the protagonists. Undoubtedly, most science fiction short stories are centered on gender stereotypes in society. The mere fact that they emphasize such stereotypes in stories that predict the future of the planet, the genre affects the way women view themselves. Female characters more often than not assume a passive or caring role in this genre and are less likely to be portrayed as experts in their careers. For instance, Mrs. Flynn, in Flowers for Algernon, is a very interesting character but Charlie knows her as “a wonderful woman whenever someone is sick” (Keyes 304). From this perspective, it is arguable that there are only images but “no real women” in science fiction since female characters are based purely on male fantasy.