Jules answers “Was the relationship between the high...”

Penny asked this question about Three Women:

Was the relationship between the high school student and her teacher romanticized? Was the girl portrayed as "asking for it"? Is female masochism normalized in this book? It sounds a little creepy, and extremely misogynistic. Not all women "desire" suffering & exploitation.

Jules Fair questions. Like you've said here with these questions, many portrayals of women in the book point at them "asking for it" by being, in effect alm…moreFair questions. Like you've said here with these questions, many portrayals of women in the book point at them "asking for it" by being, in effect almost held to ransom by the desires of men. All females in the book experience desire but this is a dictated by men desire (men are in control - not the women) - men are in ownership of and control the power in the desire relationship. Yes, I guess this is 'extremely misogynistic'. Not one of the women in the book wins via feeling desire - the women are not empowered in this book.(less)

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