"Bloodchild" by Octavia E. Butler
'Bloodchild' by Octavia E. Octavia 'Bloodchild' is a short story written by American author, Octavia E. Butler and it focuses on societal gender roles in a number of ways by playing 'man' in 'woman's' position. In this story, the T'lics are the dominant race in an Alien world and they are parasitic species that rely on Terrans (or humans) as hosts. They keep the humans captive on a preserve for the purpose of hosting its eggs and delivering its young. The T'lic are in the position of physical and political power, however, they cannot have children without the Terran. Even though the men are more powerful physically and politically than women, they still need women for their children. While the men gave birth in this story, women were fierce and powerful. Comparing to today's society, men do not give birth, so the author shows the pain in another form of species to help men understand about the sacrifice women has to make and the pain t...