What role does gender inequality play in the story? How much has changed since the time period portrayed in the book?
Gender inequality plays a huge role. We see it throughout the book, the idea of a woman’s place being in the home, men being the only acceptable breadwinners, women deferring to men, etc.
Mimi taking the clinic job in the first place was, in part, because of the limited jobs for women at the time and her lack of training due to being a stay-at-home mom for many years. While Mimi needed a job with Stan not working, in another time she would have had more options.
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Gender inequality is a main theme of the novel. Just even the fact, that women have limited choices once they are pregnant, but they must face the situation, but men can walk away is gender inequality.
I believe that there is still gender inequality, as confirmed in the amount of money women make vs men, or the limited number of women in high level leadership positions of large companies, medical institutions or law firms. It is tough when it is not equal. Mimi needed to get a job, but she had few options. Women do have more options today but it is still not equal for opportunities, education and promotions.
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If I read this book 10 years ago, I would have had a very different reaction to the “gender inequality” theme than I did now. Unfortunately, this theme has resurfaced in current times, in ways in which I would not have thought 10 years ago. We had made great strides, or so I thought. But now, we are going backwards and it is absolutely terrifying.
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The entire book is based on gender inequality. From the first chapter when Mimi lies so that she can get birth control without her husband’s signature, to her difficulty in finding a job. No one wanted to hire a married woman even though she had to work to keep her family from losing their home. It is also gender inequality that an unwanted pregnancy was a burden on women but not on men – men could continue their lives unchanged but women were required to go through with the pregnancy and if they opted for a secret abortion, they would be shunned and possibly arrested. There are still some people who believe that mothers shouldn’t be allowed to work but thank goodness, that group is in the minority in our country.
I agree with the earlier comments.
The whole story was about gender equality and how it impacted the lives of the characters in myriad ways. It’s a very contemporary story because the U.S. is going in the wrong direction. We have regressed after making so many strides toward equality for all, and it’s nothing short of sickening. When I see all the states that have passed laws denying healthcare to women, I am outraged and appalled.
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The story takes place in 1930s and 1940s Chicago. Women had few choices about their own bodies; abortion was against the law. Few safe yet illegal clinics were in existence. Women were locked in by poverty, abuse, shame or fear. Men faced few or no consequences.
Today, the laws are at the whim of mostly men. Laws are controlled by the states. Those laws change in the politically fickle hands of unpredictable, unsympathetic politicians.
I think gender in equality was the major theme in this book. If I had read this a few years ago, I would be thankful that this has changed. With our current political situation, the inequality has increased.
Being female is harder in our society than being male. “You can be anything you want to be” doesn’t hold true. The current “afflictions” against women are done right wrong!