"The Left Hand of Darkness" and Gender Fluidity

In 1969, Ursula K. Le Guin published a groundbreaking novel called "The Left Hand of Darkness" that questioned binary concepts of gender. Learn about the backlash from fans that found the book too controversial as well as criticism from feminists who felt that she didn’t go far enough.

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Clip Season 33 Episode 9 Length 03:55 Premiere: 08/02/19

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"The Left Hand of Darkness" and Gender Fluidity

Recent Episodes

W.E.B. Du Bois: Rebel With a Cause

Bella! This Woman's Place Is in the House

Sun Ra: Do The Impossible

Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire

Starring Dick Van Dyke

Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore

Sponsored by:

Clips & Previews

American Masters has been nominated for an Emmy®!

Worlds of Ursula K. Le Guin Preview

Learn About Ursula K. Le Guin's Predecessor to Harry Potter

Ursula K. Le Guin's Passionate Acceptance Speech

"The Left Hand of Darkness" and Gender Fluidity

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Remembering Carol Channing

Remembering Stan Lee

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Artists Flight Series Promo

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W.E.B. Du Bois: Rebel With a Cause [ASL]

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Greg Kinnear on Acting, AI, and Why Movies Still Matter

Aliah Irvine & Kehau Kapua’a: Kukulu

Chris Fleming Embraces the Chaos

Cindy Tran: From Here to Here

Lani B. Supreme: Legacy

Hannah Mayree: Songs of Reclamation

John Goodman on "The Big Lebowski" and Jeff Bridges

Alsarah: The Sonic Historian

Bella! This Woman's Place Is in the House [EAD]

Bella! This Woman's Place Is in the House [ASL]

Ani Liu: Eye Heart Womb

Sun Ra: Do The Impossible [ASL]

Sun Ra: Do The Impossible [EAD]

Night in Newark

Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire [ASL]

Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire [EAD]

Maryam Taghavi: Estranged Letters [Extended Audio Description]

How Leslie Jones Became a Comedian

Maryam Taghavi: Estranged Letters

Phoebe Robinson Shows Her Work

Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore [EAD]

Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore [ASL]

Sarah McLachlan: Making Music to Connect and Heal

Harvey Fierstein on gay representation on Broadway and its deep history

How Natasha Rothwell’s Life Brought Her to “The White Lotus”

When Ringo Starr met Mae West

Daniel Dae Kim Leads Spy Drama and Fights for Industry Change

Edel Rodriguez: Freedom is a Verb

Edel Rodriguez: Freedom is a Verb [ASL]

Edel Rodriguez: Freedom is a Verb [Extended Audio Description]

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John Kander and Fred Ebb on “Cabaret,” creativity and collaboration

House of Aama: Threads of Legacy

House of Aama: Threads of Legacy [Extended Audio Description]

House of Aama: Threads of Legacy [ASL]

Marcella [ASL]

Marcella [Extended Audio Description]

Norman Teague: Love Reigns Supreme

Norman Teague: Love Reigns Supreme [ASL]

Norman Teague: Love Reigns Supreme [Extended Audio Description]

Hannah Arendt: Facing Tyranny [ASL]

Hannah Arendt: Facing Tyranny [Extended Audio Description]

Phil Rosenthal’s Secret Recipe: Good Food and a Laugh

Janis Ian: Breaking Silence [ASL]

Janis Ian: Breaking Silence [Extended Audio Description + OC]

Danielle Scott: Ancestral Call

Danielle Scott: Ancestral Call [ASL]

Danielle Scott: Ancestral Call [Extended Audio Description]

Tunde Adebimpe Channels His DIY Roots Into Raw Solo Debut