ROLES REVERSED IN THE END OF THIS DAY’S BUSINESS BY KATHARINE BURDEKIN: A UTOPIAN DYSTOPIAN SOCIAL ORDER

Abstract

This article aims to introduce the British writer, Katharine Burdekin as a writer of speculative fiction and to critically deal with her literary utopia/dystopia, The End of This Day’s Business (1935, 1989). Burdekin’s brief biographical information, in conjunction with an analysis of her other significant work, Swastika Night (1937) is necessary for comprehending her concerns about the future and her utopian impulse. The article presents an analytical approach to the interconnectedness between gender politics, knowledge production and communication, and practice of power in the envisioned world order. It concerns Burdekin’s representation of both the patriarchal and matriarchal world order and discusses her quest for the utopian impulse and constructive social change. KEY WORDS: Katharine Burdekin, gender politics, hope, utopias, dystopias -- Este articulo pretende introducir a la escritora britanica, Katharine Burdekin, como escritora de ficcion especulativa, y tambien tratar criticamente su utopia/distopia literaria, The End of This Day’s Business (1935, 1989). Para entender la preocupacion de Burdekin con el futuro y tambien su impulso utopico, hace falta informacion biografica y una referencia a su otra obra notable, Swastika Night (1937). Este articulo presenta un enfoque analitico de la interconexion entre la politica de genero, la produccion y la comunicacion del conocimiento, y la practica del poder en el orden mundial imaginado. Se trata sobre su representacion de los ordenes mundiales patriarcales y matriarcales, y sobre su busqueda de un impulso utopico y un cambio social constructivo. PALABRAS CAVE: Katharine Burdekin, politica de genero, esperanza, utopias, distopias