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Speech Sounds By Octavia Butler

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Race & Gender Roles in “Speech Sounds” by Octavia Butler

"Speech Sounds" by Octavia Butler is a science fiction story that explores the significance of race and gender in a post-apocalyptic world. The story is set in a world where a mysterious disease has wiped out the ability to speak and understand language, leaving only a small number of survivors who are struggling to rebuild society. The significance of race and gender in the story highlights the ways in which these social constructs continue to impact people even in extreme situations.

The world depicted in the story is one in which language has been destroyed, and yet the social hierarchies that exist in society continue to be maintained and reinforced through the use of race. An individual's race is used to differentiate the survivors and to create hierarchies in society. This highlights the ways in which these social constructs are deeply ingrained in society and continue to impact people even when they are no longer necessary. …show more content…

This racial hierarchy is evident in the way that the white men treat Rye when she encounters them on her journey, and in the way that they try to control her actions. The white men are depicted as having more power and resources, while Rye is depicted as being vulnerable and in need of protection. This representation of black people as being in need of protection from white men reinforces the stereotype of black people are passive and in need of protection, while white people are the “superior” race in power and

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