Do men have more power than women within the families and societies of Lies and Weddings? Or is gender irrelevant, with power being derived through other factors?
It goes beyond gender, with power derived from factors such as wealth, legacy, strategy, and social positioning.
Within the book’s social circles, gender shapes expectations. Men are expected to carry on the family name and business. But mothers and aunties and matriarchal bosses make and break alliances, influence decisions, and act as power brokers. Savvy women who are well-connected, or from high-status families, wield immense influence and power, sometimes more than the men.
In Lies and Weddings, it might seem like men have more power because they hold titles or are expected to carry on the family name. But the women—like Eden, Lady Arabella, and Martha Dung—are often the ones making the real moves.So while gender does play a role, power really comes from knowing how to work the system.
I agree the work being done behind the scenes, usually by women, wields more power than gender alone.
I think gender is irrelevant. Circumstances seem to dictate who has the most power. Clearly, Lady Arabella was in charge of her family. However, Rene Tan was the “man in charge” through life. Eden and her dad had a relationship more democratic - neither one more powerful than the other. Eden and Rufus had a relationship where decision-making was mutual.
While the men may have had the titles, certainly in Rufus’s family mom had the power over Francis. She called all the shots, yet…she had no idea of the real state of their affairs, and that’s where the real power lies.
I think the women had more power. I think the men thought they had the power, but the women got things done behind the scenes.
I agree with Terrie_J: I think that the men thought they had the power, but ultimately it was their wives who influenced them.
It seems the males in this novel tend to have a slightly easier, less structured and stressful existence compared to the women. Rufus, for instance, endures familial pressure from his mother but doesn’t really bend to her whims - and there are few repercussions for that. However, his sisters are tightly controlled by their mother.
The other men tend to wander around doing whatever appeals to them, too. There aren’t even real repercussions for the new cheating husband.
It seems that men do have more power, but only in some instances such as mobility, (come and go as they please) family responsibilities (not responsible for children’s care, only what money can provide but not physically there for the child) However, it a lot of instances, woman have a silent control over their destiny wealth, etc. Point being Lady Annabella, she certainly knew how to work the system.
I think it may appear that the men have more power, but behind the scenes, many times it is the women who are really running the show…Lady Annabella for instance.