With her in Ourland

Vandyck Jennings and his wife Ellador, a resident of the all-female utopia Herland, leave her isolationist homeland to travel across the globe during the First World War. This sequel documents their observations of early twentieth-century civilizations, specifically the United States, Europe, and Asia. Through Ellador’s external perspective, the narrative critiques human institutions such as private property, organized religion, and the patriarchal nuclear family. Gilman uses these discussions to contrast "Ourland" with the communal, mother-centric logic and peaceful social organization previously established in her fictional female society.

Sociologists and students of feminist history read this work to examine the development of early socialist and suffragist thought. It serves as a primary source for those analyzing Gilman’s specific arguments regarding social reform, economic independence, and environmental stewardship. A reader finishes the book with a clear understanding of the author's belief that a society’s health depends on the elevation of women’s status and the replacement of competitive individualism with cooperative service.