Gender Stereotypes In Philip K. Dick's The Golden Man

In the majority of Philip K. Dick’s work, women are portrayed as accessories to their male counterparts, rather than fully developed characters. In the short story The Golden Man, PKD’s depiction of Anita Ferris regresses into a weaponization of female sexuality, victimizing women as mere sources of reproduction. Next (2007) continues a similar ideology, with Liz Cooper being used as a plot device throughout her questionable relationship with Cris. Both works attempt to evoke sympathy towards their male characters at the expense of how women are treated. The Golden Man introduces Anita, in typical Philip K. Dick fashion, by paying special attention to her “cultivated figure”. At first, she’s treated as a respected individual, but this is immediately soured by the mention of

The men, including her fiancé, jest at her for falling for Cris’s trap. Their generalization that all women are now accessories to Cris’s advancement of the mutant race comes across as condescending, justifying the monitoring of women under the guise of their inability to reject the advances of conventionally attractive men. The Golden Man projects a message of control over women, even Cris, who supposedly understands the feeling of prejudice, has the instinct to use women as a form of escape and protection, something the women seem to have little to no authority over. In a similar vein, the film Next (2007) portrays Liz Cooper as the female love interest, who serves as the foundation for Cris’s character development. She is put under dire circumstances, suggesting a lack of autonomy in her involvement. The film attempts to provide a background for Liz to connect with the audience, but it is poorly executed and quickly becomes a segue for Cris’s behavior. Cris uses his power to predict the future to manipulate and build a relationship with Liz, who has recently ended a relationship with her stalking