The Politics of Gender in James Baldwin’s Another Country

Abstract

Baldwin presents an interesting view of men and women and their relationship to masculine and feminine behavior. The concept of masculine identity remains problematic in Another Country, though the novel does offer some reflections on the struggle to develop a new vision for men. In Another Country, Baldwin presents various interpersonal relationships which illustrate the effects of oppressions resulting from ethnic, gender and sexual differences. The cause of this oppression as portrayed in the novel is an apparent lack of love and understanding. Baldwin’s solution to the oppressive nature of these human relationships seems to be an affirmation of an idealized love; however, this type of love is only achieved through homosexual relations.

Keywords: Gender, Another Country, James Baldwin, homosexuality, masculinity, femininity.