By: Jason (aka AGoreanRPer)

This is probably one of the most debated and misconstrued topics related to Gor. Much of the problem comes Norman himself. Gor is a place were women are feminine and know they might be enslaved at most any time. Some free women happen to like that idea and so take up risky pasttimes such as wandering the high bridges alone at night where some passing tarnsman might swoop them off never to be seen again, or at least in robes. There is also the fact that just about every free woman mentioned in the books ends up enslaved regardless of the fact that Norman says only about 10 percent of the population was actually slaves. This writing is my own humble attempt to shed some light on this often confusing subject.

Let me start by dealing with some of the misconceptions we see online about Gorean Free Women. The first one I want to address is one I see and hear from a number of slaves or those proclaiming to be slaves. This would be "I dont have to obey her, she's just a slave in robes," or also seen as "she's just a female and no better than I am." Wrong, the books are quite clear on this. A slave must take whatever a Free Person, male or female, chooses to do to them, resistance is punishable by impalement. The novels are full of quotes that back this up and can be found in almost every book. Slaves lived in fear of most Free Women and rightly so. Free Women had power and station and the right to choose, yet their men might be in some paga den with slaves. Who can blame the Free Women then for being a little jealous and taking it out on a slave, that's what slaves are there for afterall. Add to this the fact that Free Women know that they too might be collared one day and forced to serve fully like the slaves they see and that fear merely gives them another reason to take their anger and frustrations out on slaves.

The second fallacy I'd like to address is the one most men like to throw about, the "It's a man's world and if you (the Free Woman) dont shut up and be quiet, I'll collar you." This couldn't be more misstateded if it one tried to mess it up. Free Women had a loud and very prominant voice in Gorean society.

"The Gorean woman, for reasons that are not altogether clear to me, considering the culture, rejoices in being a woman. She is an exciting, magnificent, glorious creature, outspoken, talkative, vital, active, spirited."

- PRIEST-KINGS OF GOR, Pg. 67

There was a reason for this as well. The average Gorean Free Woman of high castes or the Merchant Caste would be well educated and active in the social and political and often finacial world of their cities. Most of these would be single still, not yet companioned and so would have the free time to pursue investments and various causes. Examples of this include Talena of Ar, the Silver Masks of Tharna, the Tatrix of Corcyrus, the women of Lara who ran some of the estates in and around the city, and others scattered thru out the books. The ones who were companioned would be a bit more busy with helping to run her companion's house hold, raising their children, and other daily chores. The Free Women of lower caste would be less active in the city running and this is because a peasant Free Woman, or the companion of a candle maker or a wood cutter, would have next to no money for such things and also would be working just as hard as her companion earning their wages to live on. A Free Woman could say what she wished, when she wished and men let them do so. If they didn't agree with them, then they didn't agree and it seldom went further than that.

"It is not difficult, of course, to take insolence from a woman. Let the woman say what they will. Does a Gorean man really get that upset over some insolent words from a woman? Is her tongue sharper than a sword?"

- MERCENARIES OF GOR, Pg. 7

And if the men did disagree she could disdainfully ignore them and get away with it.

"The Lady Telitsia did not deign to respond to this suggestion. She could afford to ignore it, disdainfully. She was not a slave, she was a free woman, and above whipping."

- PLAYERS OF GOR, Pg. 135

There is a great number of men online who seem to think that the fact that since Gor was a man's world that it makes women who are free nothing more than arm candy while the truth is much different when one reads the books. It's almost as if the men here online are worried that a woman with an opinion and a voice will somehow expose their own mistakes and errors and force them to be better men instead of loud ruffians running about waving swords and botas. Insults and such can easily be shrugged off, after all, they knew who they were and if a woman disagreed then it was her right to say so. If the words of a woman upset a man so much that he feels the need to threaten her to silence, then maybe the man should be looking at himself as to why it angered him so instead of taking it out on her.

The third misconception I'd like to address is the "I'll never submit to a collar, I'll take my life first." This, while perhaps true in rare circumstances, would not be the norm and not as prevalent as it seems to be sworn to on AOLGor. The average Gorean Free Woman of high caste or Merchant Caste would have grown up around slaves, been familiar with slaves, and would have more than a passing knowledge of what would be expected of them if one day they did happen to be enslaved. Add to this fact that while the statement "I'll die first" sounds all well and good, no one really wants to die and that slavery while offering a very slim chance of escape was much more than death offered. The Gorean people were proud and knew who they were inside and because of this, suicides were uncommon and rare, not to mention viewed very unfavorably upon. Consider Verna in Hunters of Gor, she wasn't even threatened with death but a hamstringing and she begged a collar rather than be cripple for the rest of her life. Survival is a powerful instinct that is lessened online by the fact that many view a character as nothing but just another screen name and not a real person.

The fourth fact I'd like to try and set straight is the rights of a Gorean Free Woman in her own city. In her own city a Free Woman was very protected. There were normally a number of laws and customs dealing with the robes of concealment, veils, about women not being allowed to roam the city without an escort or a guard, and while they varied from city to city, the one constant was the reason for having them. That reason is to protect the women of that Home Stone. Women from other cities were commonly viewed as nothing more than targets, yet any woman who was attacked in her city would be defended by the men of her city. Caste rights gave a free woman even more rights since no man of a low caste would dare to raise his hand against a woman of high caste, such a thing would get him thrown before the city magistrates and beaten.

Due to the circles and quests Tarl Cabot was caught up in, he was exposed to many more women who ended up enslaved than the average Gorean would have. This was more due to the need for literary plots and action than a true look at a Gorean cultural cross section. This is part of the reason that Norman inserted so many asides about what everyday Gorean life was like or what common sayings and actions were in situations. Tarl Cabot and others who ended up the major characters in the books were not average Goreans, they were the heros and archvillians, the public figures who rallied the common man and set examples to live by or avoid. Many peasants most likely rarely saw slaves since they would rarely leave their free holdings. In fact, the majority of free men of lower caste had no slaves. They couldn't afford to buy them, and a slave couldn't produce heirs. It was also a matter of practicality and realism.

"'On a peasant holding,' said Thurnock, defensively, a though he must justify having freed Thura, 'one can get much more work from a free woman.'"

- RAIDERS OF GOR, Pg. 304

The average Gorean Free Woman would be of lower caste. She would be hard working and fairly intelligent. In the lowest castes such as wood carriers and peasants, more than likely she would be working right alongside her companion. Not to mention that most lower caste men could not afford a slave or the upkeep of a slave.

"I am only a poor fisherman, and could scarce afford the costs of a slave."

- RAIDERS OF GOR, Pg. 304

"He looked at her. 'I am an outlaw,' said he. 'I have little use for a slave.'"

- HUNTERS OF GOR, Pg. 303

So much depends on perspective and the right perspective is seldome seen online. Understanding and knowledge are sacrificed on the alter of easiness and expediency. Instead of investing the time to know what one has or is seeking, people do the easiest and quickest thing that they can think of and then complain when things don't end up perfect. If someone wants to reap the rewards then one must invest the time sowing the seeds and tending the tender shoots while they grow. Free women were an important, vital, and well respected part of Gorean life. To toss them aside online as "collar bait" or "uncollared slaves" or "people to be seen and not heard" is a misjustice to Gorean society.

I hope this helps to clear up some of the issues dealing with Gorean Free Women, or at least causes a few people to think more about the issue rather than just promote the status quo which perpetuates the myths and half truths flowing around about Free Women.

- Jason
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