There is a certain validity to that line of criticism in that the LEAD characters were never seen in more "feminine" roles. They are politicians, spiritual leaders, the "king," and all referred to using masculine pronouns -- Genly's choice, which he explains very well, in my opinion.
I did read that Le Guin always regretted that she never got to write the lead characters in that book in the parts of their lives that were less traditionally masculine. I recall specifically that she said something about wishing she had had good reason to show Estraven as a mother with Arek (I am unsure why she chose to use that word, since Estraven was the biological FATHER of both of his children with Arek, but I suppose she just meant having a nurturing role in their upbringing). But then there are her two short stories set on Gethen -- in one, the Gethenians are all referred to as SHE, and that story I recall was actually written before the novel. In the other, they revert to the male pronoun for all persons, but it tells the story of an adolescent Karhider experiencing their first kemmer -- as female. "His" first sexual experiences are as a woman, with other women. I particularly like that story. It does very well to show the complete equality with which Karhiders (I don't recall if Orgoreyn sexual practices are discussed at all) regard any conceivable kind of sex, from homosexual couplings to orgies and there is reference made to the free practice of more creative approaches.
no subject
I did read that Le Guin always regretted that she never got to write the lead characters in that book in the parts of their lives that were less traditionally masculine. I recall specifically that she said something about wishing she had had good reason to show Estraven as a mother with Arek (I am unsure why she chose to use that word, since Estraven was the biological FATHER of both of his children with Arek, but I suppose she just meant having a nurturing role in their upbringing). But then there are her two short stories set on Gethen -- in one, the Gethenians are all referred to as SHE, and that story I recall was actually written before the novel. In the other, they revert to the male pronoun for all persons, but it tells the story of an adolescent Karhider experiencing their first kemmer -- as female. "His" first sexual experiences are as a woman, with other women. I particularly like that story. It does very well to show the complete equality with which Karhiders (I don't recall if Orgoreyn sexual practices are discussed at all) regard any conceivable kind of sex, from homosexual couplings to orgies and there is reference made to the free practice of more creative approaches.