"When It Changed" takes place on Whileaway, a planet inhabited solely by women. This vision of a world where women are free from patriarchal and societal limitations is a recurring theme in Russ's work. However, Whileaway is not a paradise; it has its share of violence and challenges that the residents must face. The unexpected arrival of several men is just one such challenge.

1. What does the title of this short story signify? When exactly did the change occur? Was it when the men arrived or when they perished on the planet? What do you think transformed, and was it an improvement?

2. The planet is named "Whileaway." Why do you believe the author chose this name for her planet?

3. Russ engages her readers at the story's outset by describing the narrator's "wife," only to later reveal that both partners are women. Why did the author intentionally do this? What commentary was she making about contemporary culture?

4. The women on Whileaway have established a unique society. How would you characterize this society?

5. Would you consider the society on Whileaway to be Utopian? Why or why not?

6. Why do you think Russ crafted a society without men and then introduced them back into it?

7. When the men arrive, one of them asks, "Where are all your people?" After being told about a plague on Whileaway, he repeats the question. The narrator then realizes he means "Where are all the men?" What is Russ conveying about society, especially a patriarchal one?

8. How does Russ depict the men? Why does she provide detailed information about the various forms of transportation they have brought?

9. When the four men visit Whileaway, they ask, "Which of you plays the role of the man?" The narrator responds, "I doubt very much that sexual equality has been reestablished on Earth." What does she imply? Why does she express this view?

10. Upon learning that men must be reintroduced to Whileaway, the narrator fears her achievements will diminish. Why does she feel this way? And why does she conclude with, "Take my life but don't take away the meaning of my life. For-a-While." What does she mean by this?