For me it's not the pronouns per se except as representative of the dismissive attitude toward women conveyed throughout the book. It's not just Genly Ai. Even the title; women are commonly associated with the left-hand side as in the use of the word distaff,which is held in the left hand. So why is the feminine the gender of darkness? I think Le Guin is talking out of both sides of her mouth in this respect.
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