Are Tolkiens Books Sexist? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Elanor · 12-22-2001, 05:29 PM

No, I don't think Tolkien was deliberately sexist at all. I saw a programme today though, that pointed out Tolkien was part of a society and class where boys went off to all-boys boarding schools at the age of 5. Then he went to Oxford, which was totally male-dominated at that time. So he probably didn't have much experience of women, and doubtless felt more comfortable writing about male characters, as he could empathise more easily.

12-22-2001, 05:29 PM	#3
Elanor Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: my own corner of the Shire Posts: 316	No, I don't think Tolkien was deliberately sexist at all. I saw a programme today though, that pointed out Tolkien was part of a society and class where boys went off to all-boys boarding schools at the age of 5. Then he went to Oxford, which was totally male-dominated at that time. So he probably didn't have much experience of women, and doubtless felt more comfortable writing about male characters, as he could empathise more easily. __________________ "When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading." Henny Youngman (1906 - )