It needs to be reckoned that the there is a difference between the sex of a person and the gender identity. In a society that is largely patriarchal in nature, the societal institutions come to impose the gender on the individual based on the sexual identity that the person is born with. However, this process of gender construction is not a natural phenomenon and can be described to be rather an imposition as per the parameters of patriarchy and its norms. As one goes through the story, All You Zombies, written by Robert A. Heinlein, one finds the exploration of the complicated issues related to the notion of sexual identity and gender identity through the portrayal of the various characters. The confrontation of the various identities is possible as the stalwart author incorporates the surmounting effect of time travel to show how identities are formed and deconstructed in the course of time with various external influences. The story explores the issues of identity construction along with the differences of gender and sexuality.
As such, one gets to explore the issues of identity and sexuality through the complications faced by the protagonist of the story’s narrative. The problematizing of the concept of sexual identity and gender becomes conspicuous right at the very inception of the story when the readers come to know that the male character writes for a magazine taking the pseudonym of Unmarried Mother. The very fact that the male character in context writes as a woman shows how gender identity is not in congruence with one’s sexual identity. The author of this story shows that the protagonist is in conversation with this Bartender with whom he shares the story of his past. The protagonist goes on to say that he was born as a female in an orphanage. Later in her life, she was impregnated by a man quite older than her. However, it was during her pregnancy that she came to know that she was an intersex. It becomes quite clear to the avid readers that the author has gone on to complicate the entire notion of sexual and gender identity. (heslopscultcorner.wordpress.com 1) Here, one can find a reference to the fact that a person with a male sexual identity can very well have a feminine gender. Likewise, it can be taken for granted that a female can have a masculine gender.
Thus, it can very well be commented that the central thematic content of this story in context is the issue of gender identity. As the story unfolds, the complications of the plot become clearer to the audience. Furthermore, the very concept of time travel that constitutes the core of the plot of this story helps to create a paradoxical situation. The readers can thus comprehend how gender identity is different from the sexual identity of an individual as it is found out that many characters in the story are all the same person in different times facing this paradoxical situation due to time travel. The successful incorporation of time travel in the plot of this story functions to point to the nature of gender identity being constructed by the societal influences as it is not something that a person is born with, quite unlike the sexual identity of the individual. But, when the readers and the protagonist himself comes to know of the various gender identities spanning across time, it becomes crystal clear that the matter is much more complicated than being societally imposed on any person.
Truly, sex and gender affect the notion of self in the case of the protagonist of this story. The readers come to know that this person was born as a female, and then the person felt attracted to the male self that had come from the future via the time machine. The present identity of the protagonist is that of a male who had to change the sex due to complications during pregnancy. Also, the child that was born of the female self of the past was taken away and left in an orphanage. This child is no one else but the protagonist of the story. On an apparent level, all of this might come across to be very complicated to the readers or even confusing for some. However, the main ambition of the author behind incorporating this complication of time paradox and intricacy of identity of the same person is to highlight the fact that gender identity can alter the overall notion of self for a person. (Wright 1) As such, having transformed from a female to a male, the ambivalent gender identity of this person could very well be understood to be a major part of the notion of identity.
The readers come to know that the protagonist felt attracted toward his self that was there in the past. Thus, the older male from the future and the younger female went on to be attracted toward one another. This shows how sexuality of a person is also related to the gender identity of that individual. The time travel enables the introduction of this paradoxical situation where the female and the male get close to one another. The state of being an intersex is symbolic of the possibility of masculinity and femininity in any individual. It needs to be reckoned that it is the society that goes on to impose gender identity to any person. However, if that societal imposition is not present, a person can have the liberty to construct his or her own gender sans any external influence.
So, there cannot be any doubt about the fact that this story by Robert A. Heinlein is a sci-fi work that explores the depths of human identity, construction of self and relationship between gender and sex of an individual. It is truly intriguing to see that the protagonist retains the psyche and perspective of femininity even after being transformed into a sexual male after the state of being an intersex was found out during the pregnancy. But, this same man who retained the feminine perspective and gender and worked as the Unmarried Mother for the magazine writing columns felt sexually attracted toward a female. (enotes.com 1) Thus, it can be said that the author goes to the extent of even intertwining the gender identity and sexual identity in the course of the narrative pointing to the surmounting effect of the societal influences on any individual.
It would be correct to conclude by saying that this story, All You Zombies, effectively problematizes and then endeavors to seek answers to the issues of sexual identity and gender construction, thereby leading to the deciphering of the complications involved. The main character in context is truly affected all through life due to the transforming sense of gender and sexual identity. The time travel and the paradox lead to this complicacy in the life of the protagonist. This literary work is a fine example of the power of creativity and imagination on the part of a creative artist to explore the inner thoughts, notions, and emotions of an individual. It is due to the central thematic content of the work that the story attains universal appeal and literary charm. The many characters portrayed throughout the story come across to be the same person by the end of the tale.
Works Cited
“"‘All You Zombies—'" Summary.” Enotes. Enotes.com, n.d. Web. 20 June 2016.
“Book review: All You Zombies by Robert A. Heinlein.” Wordpress.
heslopscultcorner.wordpress.com, 23 April 2014. Web. 20 June 2016.
Heinlein, Robert A. “All You Zombies.” emilkirkegaard.dk. emilkirkegaard.dk, n.d.
Web. 20 June 2016.
Wright, David. “All You Zombies- Review.” The Heinlein Society. heinleinsociety.org,
