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Firstly, I have to admit that I am quite in despair by some of the (I am assuming) young women posting in this thread who, in the year 2003, are quite unable to see their own gender portraying any other literary function than love/sex object.
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Lalaith - I don't necessarily think that these young women (myself included sans the 'young' part - 'young-ish' maybe?) feel that a woman in the fellowship could have served no other purpose, but that Tolkien himself, whether because of his own history or the times in which he wrote, would have been unable to write it otherwise. As wonderful an author as the man was - and no one could possibly revere him more than I - I don't believe he would have been capable of writing an effective female character as a member of the fellowship without the story itself suffering.
Doug and I discussed on another thread not long ago how every plot-point - however miniscule - was necessary to the story as a whole...remove one single point and the story falls down like so many dominoes. (ex.: Bilbo doesn't give Sting [a sword made expressly for the elves to fend off giant spiders in Mirkwood] to Frodo so Sam can't wield it against Shelob therefore using "the Spider's Bane" against the ultimate spider. I don't think the barrow blade would have been quite so effective, hmmm?)
By the same token, if you add or subract any single attribute or character-flaw from any member of the fellowship, it would necessarily affect plot and, therefore story. Imagine what the addition of another member - male OR female - would have done? I can hear the dominoes tumbling now. And what a tragedy that would be!
Might a female in the fellowship have worked? Possibly. But would it then be OUR Lord of the Rings? Absolutely not.
And for those of you women who are disappointed in those of us who prefer it the way it is, sans females, I'm terribly sorry but I'm quite willing to forfeit my 'PC-ness' to maintain this work the way it was originally presented. I personally don't need a strong female character in every tale I read - I know strong females exist (and like to think myself one of them) and therefore do not need every author to include one in order to feel validated. I think it's more a measure of strength to appreciate a literary work on its own merit without needing an author to give you someone to identify with and thus tell you how strong you are. That's what Mary Sue fan fiction is for.
I can't help but feel the same pressure here as I have encountered in my life with the career vs. family issue. If I stay home with my family, I'm spitting in the face of the ERA and striking a blow against all womankind. If I focus on my career and drive for success I'm neglecting my family and imperiling the future of America with my wild offspring. By the same token the discussion here seems to veer off every now and then to, 'if you don't think a female in the fellowship would have worked, you're betraying womankind.' Nonsense.
[ March 23, 2003: Message edited by: Aratlithiel ]