Gender Role

“The girls looked like tall, exotic grazing animals …” (p. 75) Note: Women are being depicted as whores here yet again. Why must all of the females besides Molly or Linda be considered whores?




"Molly was snorting on the temperfoam….transparent cast ran from her knee to a few millimeters above her crotch…” (p.76) Note: The way that Case is looking at Molly almost brings her down to the ideology of a sexual object. From other scenes in our book, we know that Molly is a strong character. Why weaken a strong woman down to just a piece of meat?




“They sure as hell did shaft you boss.” (p. 79) Note: Case is lying down next to Molly when he acknowledges the fact that she is a woman but has the power of a boss. à Women can be in charge.




“Not enough sweetmeat.” (p. 84) Note: Finn was depicting strong, bossy Molly yet again as a thing rather than a person. Why must all these men always put poor Molly down? She plays a key role in this matrix/non-matrix reality.



“His name is Terzibashijan.” (p.85) Note: Up to this point in the book, many of the characters that are involved are just men. The only two women that were not background characters are Molly and Linda. At this point, Linda has already died, so it is a very male driven novel. The one strong woman in this novel, Molly, is what links all the guys together. Who would want to read a novel about all guys? Boring.



“In Turkey, women are still women” (p. 87) Note: Terzibashijan was referring to that fact that Turkish women play their “womanly” role in society. He finds it unusual that Molly doesn’t fit into this stereotype.


“You’re an asshole….I’ll kill you.” (p. 90) Note: Molly was upset at Terzibashijan for not having enough faith in her to finish the job. He made the move. He is just proving here that he believes that women are weak and need help from men.



“Can’t get off sexually unless he knows that he is betraying the object of desire.” (p.92) Note: This is discussing the fact that men objectify and use women for their own pleasure. If Riveria can’t get off without knowing that he is hurting them some way, obliviously he does not care about women, period.



“How about me….hike in the opposite direction.” (p. 125) Note: Molly was asking what she could do, and she was told to hike. Basically, they are representing the idea that women can’t do things like men can.


“Her leg seemed to be bothering her…” (p. 69) Note: Molly was experiencing pain but did not say anything. She is such a strong woman that she didn’t see any reason to complain about it. If she appears weak, she may not be accepted as a “strong player” in the man world of the Matrix.