I think that women have always been considered weaker than men. They warn girls to protect themselves when they go out. Molly has a cat-like claws made of blades to protect her. This shows that Women are still considered weaker and that they need to have a technological modification to protect them.
Molly also has lenses that make it impossible to cry. Women are more sensitive, and it is appropriate for them to cry, but men are not supposed to show their emotions. Men spit and do other things that women are not supposed to do. This is shown in Titanic where Rose learns to “spit like a man.” It was not normal for her to partake in that action. By forcing Molly to spit, instead of cry, makes her less than of a human. Her nature is to cry when she is upset. She can spit, which she does, but it is definitely hiding her weaker status as a female since she can’t let her guard down and cry.
Molly also makes an argument similar to Pitts by wanting to modify the body to reclaim it. She once used her body for money in prostitution. She wants to reclaim her body by modifying it, and this is seen through her fighting against Peter who tries to control the female body. She wants to use her new modifications to help herself and others to reclaim her own body that was once hurt and misused.
3 comments:
My first instinct would be to take a feminist view saying that women aren’t weaker than men, nor are they inferior, but on second thought I understand what you are saying. Yes it pisses me off that there are different standards set for men and women as to the displays of emotion, but ultimately these standards are what our society today believes. Its ok for guys to fart, burp, spit and publicly display other normal bodily functions. But if a girl were to partake in these same actions outside her circle of friends, it would be considered unladylike and rude. Yeah, that’s crap. I think that the standards should be the same and in this context I support Molly’s body modifications. I think that they are totally unnecessary, and like Pitt’s argument, don’t feel that that’s how the body should be ‘reclaimed’, but I like that she’s taking a stand against her society and being a strong independent female.
I think the thoughts on the female gender construction in the book are interesting. Reading both your post, and the reaction to it, it really makes me think about how men are established in the book as well. It's easy to pick out Molly's modifications and figure out why she has them and what they represent, but I am finding it much harder to try and define exactly what makes the males in the book "men."
I think gender would be an interesting topic to discuss in class, and something I will have to think more about in the context of the book....
I definitely agree that women have been considered weaker than men. Not maybe in some women's eyes, but in a lot of men's. Its obvious in so many aspects of society. Your example of Titanic further reinforces the view of women are supposed to be "ladylike." In this book Molly has a tough girl image and tries to do things without much help from others. But in the end she is considered the weaker being because Case eventually takes over, finishing the mission, and ends up being the hero in a sense.
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