The Female Man by Joanna Rus is a novel that is going to make readers’ brains burst. The plot is really twisted but it is exactly what makes this story memorable and unique. One has to be prepared for an excessive amount of peculiar humor, wittiness, sarcasm, and feminist rhetoric. This work is our chance to have a look at the problems that have been ignored for too long.
What do feminists want? Some say that their main goal is to destroy a traditional world order in which a woman is always inferior to a man. Others who are more antagonistic say that it is going to lead to a catastrophe, for the majority of the biggest religions states that women have to follow their fathers and husbands, obey them, be silent, and resigned. There are people who dream to see death of patriarchy. One way or another, we can all agree that feminism is going to change the world. Are those changes for better or worse? Well, it won’t escalate the situation, for it is bad enough. Feminism is about equality, respect for each other, and – what is more important – responsibility. No need to be afraid of it, this is a way to liberation for both men and women. It is our chance to build a better society in which no one is being objectified.
Janet’s peacefulness is a quality we have to cultivate in ourselves. In spite of the fact that she is often described as not the smartest one, she is wiser than anyone could imagine. She doesn’t want to kill, harass, or humiliate anyone. The person who is brave enough to come to a different world without any weapon, with a cat’s string in hands is either a fool or a dreamer. Of course, she isn’t a saint, but she tries to do better.
The author doesn’t avoid the topics of a revolution and extreme violence. For instance, Jael is an opposite of Janet, her dark side. She is an assassin who doesn’t even think twice before killing anyone. She has a mission to accomplish and there is nothing that could prevent her from trying to do that. Jael is heartless, she doesn’t want to see good in people, she is used to using them. This woman is under destructive influence of the war that has been lasting for forty years. It is up to us to choose if we want to be like Jael or we want to be like Janet.
The Female Man by Joanna Rus reminds us of importance of solving social issues on time. It is high time to destroy a gap between men’s world and women’s world, create a society of equals who have nothing but respect for each other. Some people are going to say that it is a utopia and – maybe – they are completely right. However, it doesn’t mean that we should stop trying to improve the society, make this world a better place for everyone. In any case, it is better to try and see if you fail or succeed than not to try at all.
