The Gethenians can only assume a gender while in kemmer, which allows the reader to understand the perspective of not being influenced by having a set gender. Another example of cognitive estrangement within the short story proves to be the flexibility of sexuality. Once in kemmer, Gethenians do not restrict themselves to certain gendered partners and open themselves up to sexual experiences with both genders. By not limiting one’s sexual partner based to a certain gender, sexuality becomes negated within “Coming of Age in Karhide.” This open-mindedness towards sexuality appears as uncomfortable and unfamiliar to the …show more content…
Within our own society, gender roles become formed by socially constructed ideas and stereotypes for how certain genders and sexualities behave. In reality, these stereotypes influence how different people interact with one another within our society. However, in Karhide, individuals connect with one another without the preconceptions of gender and sexuality. The reader assumes this different perspective on sexual experiences and interaction, as well as imagining a world without one’s personality being influenced by associating one’s behavior to a certain