The Women's Room
Encyclopedia
The Women's Room is a novel by American feminist author Marilyn French first published in 1977.
French was almost unknown among feminist circles before the publication of the book. It has been described as one of the most influential novels of the modern feminist movement. Its instant popularity brought criticism from some well known feminists that it was too pessimistic about women's lives and too anti men.
The Women's Room is set in 1950s America and follows the fortunes of Mira Ward, a conventional and submissive young woman in a traditional marriage and her gradual feminist awakening. The novel met with stark media criticism when published but went on to be an international best seller.
Throughout the first few years of her marriage with Norm, Mira develops friendships with three neighborhood women: Natalie, married to Hampden (called "Hamp"), who works for her wealthy father's company, and the mother of three young daughters, Lena, Rena, and baby Deena. Adele is a devout Catholic, married to Paul, a lawyer, and the mother of five (later six) children, Billy, Eric, Linda, Mike, and baby Mindy. Bliss is a Southern ex-schoolteacher, married to Bill, an airline pilot, and the mother of two daughters, Cheryl and Midge. Their bonds survive until Mira discovers that Bliss is having an affair with Paul, who has also had an affair with Natalie. Together, Paul and Bliss trick Adele into thinking that Mira might be the adulteress, resulting in irreversible damage to their friendship.
Mira and Norm later move to the small town of Beau Reve, where Mira meets Lily (married to machinist Carl, mother of Andrea and Carlos), Samantha (married to salesman Hugh "Simp" Simpson, mother of Fleur and Hughie), and Martha (married to George, mother of Jeff and Lisa). As her marriage to Norm becomes more and more routine, Mira witnesses Lily going mad as a result of her son's rebellious behaviour, Samantha being evicted after Simp loses his job and leaves her, and Martha taking a married lover who gets his wife pregnant. Through them she begins to understand the unfair advantages enjoyed by men in relationships.
After many years of marriage, Norm files for divorce (it is hinted that he has been having an affair for some time) and remarries, leaving Mira on her own. Following the divorce, Mira goes to Harvard University
to study for a PhD in English literature, with which she hopes to fulfill her lifelong dream of teaching. There she meets Val
, a militant radical feminist divorcée with a "precocious" teenage daughter, Chris. It is the heyday of Women's Liberation and Mira now too, finally able to verbalise her discontent at the society around her, becomes a feminist, although a less radical and militant one than Val. Their circle includes Isolde, or "Iso" (a lesbian divorcée), Kyla (married to Harley), Clarissa (married to Duke), and Ava (Iso's roommate, an aspiring dancer). It also includes Ben, a diplomat to the fictional African nation of Lianu, with whom Mira begins a relationship.
Following the rape of Val's daughter Chris, Val states (over Mira's protests), "Whatever they may be in public life, whatever their relationships with men, in their relationships with women, all men are rapists, and that's all they are. They rape
us with their eyes, their laws, and their codes" (p. 433). Critics have sometimes quoted Val's dialogue as evidence of French's misandry
without noting that the passage is only spoken by one of many characters in the novel http://www.fatherhoodcoalition.org/cpf/newreadings/2001/feminist_hate_speech.htmhttp://www.cooltools4men.com/notguilty.htm. Mira later ends her relationship with Ben after finding out that he expects her to return to Lianu with him and have a child together. Soon after, she finds out that Val has been shot following a violent protest at the trial of a rape victim.
The book ends with a doubling back in which the narrator begins to write the story the reader has just read.
and Ted Danson
which earned three Emmy nominations.
It was dramatised for radio by the BBC
in 2007.
French was almost unknown among feminist circles before the publication of the book. It has been described as one of the most influential novels of the modern feminist movement. Its instant popularity brought criticism from some well known feminists that it was too pessimistic about women's lives and too anti men.
The Women's Room is set in 1950s America and follows the fortunes of Mira Ward, a conventional and submissive young woman in a traditional marriage and her gradual feminist awakening. The novel met with stark media criticism when published but went on to be an international best seller.
Plot details
Mira and her friends represent a wide cross section of American society in the 1950s and 60s. Mira herself is from a middle class background. She is mildly rebellious in that she disagrees with her mother's view of the world, and in her late teens gains a bad reputation because she dances with several different men on an evening out with one of them. Nonetheless, she later marries Norm, a medical student, becoming a well-respected doctor's wife and bearing two sons, Norm Jr. (called "Normie") and Clark.Throughout the first few years of her marriage with Norm, Mira develops friendships with three neighborhood women: Natalie, married to Hampden (called "Hamp"), who works for her wealthy father's company, and the mother of three young daughters, Lena, Rena, and baby Deena. Adele is a devout Catholic, married to Paul, a lawyer, and the mother of five (later six) children, Billy, Eric, Linda, Mike, and baby Mindy. Bliss is a Southern ex-schoolteacher, married to Bill, an airline pilot, and the mother of two daughters, Cheryl and Midge. Their bonds survive until Mira discovers that Bliss is having an affair with Paul, who has also had an affair with Natalie. Together, Paul and Bliss trick Adele into thinking that Mira might be the adulteress, resulting in irreversible damage to their friendship.
Mira and Norm later move to the small town of Beau Reve, where Mira meets Lily (married to machinist Carl, mother of Andrea and Carlos), Samantha (married to salesman Hugh "Simp" Simpson, mother of Fleur and Hughie), and Martha (married to George, mother of Jeff and Lisa). As her marriage to Norm becomes more and more routine, Mira witnesses Lily going mad as a result of her son's rebellious behaviour, Samantha being evicted after Simp loses his job and leaves her, and Martha taking a married lover who gets his wife pregnant. Through them she begins to understand the unfair advantages enjoyed by men in relationships.
After many years of marriage, Norm files for divorce (it is hinted that he has been having an affair for some time) and remarries, leaving Mira on her own. Following the divorce, Mira goes to Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
to study for a PhD in English literature, with which she hopes to fulfill her lifelong dream of teaching. There she meets Val
Valerie Solanas
Valerie Jean Solanas was an American radical feminist writer, best known for her attempted murder of Andy Warhol in 1968. She wrote the SCUM Manifesto, which called for male gendercide and the creation of an all-female society.-Early life:Solanas was born in Ventnor City, New Jersey, to Louis...
, a militant radical feminist divorcée with a "precocious" teenage daughter, Chris. It is the heyday of Women's Liberation and Mira now too, finally able to verbalise her discontent at the society around her, becomes a feminist, although a less radical and militant one than Val. Their circle includes Isolde, or "Iso" (a lesbian divorcée), Kyla (married to Harley), Clarissa (married to Duke), and Ava (Iso's roommate, an aspiring dancer). It also includes Ben, a diplomat to the fictional African nation of Lianu, with whom Mira begins a relationship.
Following the rape of Val's daughter Chris, Val states (over Mira's protests), "Whatever they may be in public life, whatever their relationships with men, in their relationships with women, all men are rapists, and that's all they are. They rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
us with their eyes, their laws, and their codes" (p. 433). Critics have sometimes quoted Val's dialogue as evidence of French's misandry
Misandry
Misandry is the hatred or dislike of men or boys.Misandry comes from Greek misos and anēr, andros . Misandry is the antonym of philandry, the fondness towards men, love, or admiration of them...
without noting that the passage is only spoken by one of many characters in the novel http://www.fatherhoodcoalition.org/cpf/newreadings/2001/feminist_hate_speech.htmhttp://www.cooltools4men.com/notguilty.htm. Mira later ends her relationship with Ben after finding out that he expects her to return to Lianu with him and have a child together. Soon after, she finds out that Val has been shot following a violent protest at the trial of a rape victim.
The book ends with a doubling back in which the narrator begins to write the story the reader has just read.
Other media
The novel was made into a made for TV movie in 1980 starring Lee RemickLee Remick
Lee Ann Remick was an American film and television actress. Among her best-known films are Anatomy of a Murder , Days of Wine and Roses , and The Omen .-Early life:...
and Ted Danson
Ted Danson
Edward Bridge “Ted” Danson III is an American actor best known for his role as central character Sam Malone in the sitcom Cheers, and his role as Dr. John Becker on the series Becker. He also plays a recurring role on Larry David's HBO sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm and starred alongside Glenn Close...
which earned three Emmy nominations.
It was dramatised for radio by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
in 2007.
External links
- Review at the Guardian September 13, 2003
- Review at Bibliofemme