Most of the overt focus on gender in Leviathan stems from Deryn's disguising herself as a boy in order to fly in the British Air Service. Deryn reflects quite a bit on the unfairness of this: she's a much better airman than her male counterparts, as she proves when she's allowed to stay on the ship after Dr. Barlow's arrival, but she has to hide her gender to serve. She also thinks a lot about how she performs her masculine disguise. We see gender addressed more subtly through the character of Dr. Barlow, who is so good at what she does that no one questions her right to do it.
Questions About Gender
- Out of necessity, Deryn thinks about her gender more than Alek does about his. How does gender affect his life as well?
- Imagine that you had to pretend to be the opposite gender. What do you think would be the greatest challenge?
- Does Dr. Barlow appear to be limited by her gender in any way? If yes, how? If not, why?
- Consider the consequences to Deryn and those who have helped her if she's discovered. In light of these, is it worth the risk?
Chew on This
Alek is never forced to ponder the consequences of being born male the way Deryn ponders those of being born female, but his life has been shaped by gender as much as hers.
Deryn's initial reaction to Dr. Barlow proves that she carries as much latent gender bias as her male cohorts.