I need a theme for Gathering Blue.

Gender Roles:

It becomes clear from the first chapter of the novel that the society in which Kira lives has a set hierarchy regarding the roles women and men can have. While men can occupy more positions than women, the females have no other choice but to work in the fields, weave and have children. The society is run entirely by men who live in the Edifice and no woman is allowed to occupy a position that gives her any power. Women are also not allowed to learn how to read and write because they are not considered intelligent enough. The village assigns roles considered appropriate to men and women and the women are constantly reminded that they have no rights in comparison with men. They also have less freedom to do what they want since they are expected to do certain things to be considered useful. In this sense, the village is very sexist and misogynistic but men do not have an easy life either. They are expected to risk their lives constantly and to do it without showing any fear and without hesitating to do it. The only field where girls and boys are equal is when it comes to arts and creative crafts. Thomas’s work and Kira’s work are seen as being equally important, something that would not have happened if the two were normal villagers.