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American Literature’s Depiction of Women Needs to Change
We have a very long way to go to reach equality — in life, on-screen, and in the written word.
I’m reading The Ecco Anthology of Contemporary American Short Fiction for a class I’m taking. I try not to be overly judgmental, but it’s challenging, especially when I have a lot of life experience combined with great difficulty suspending my disbelief. So, please consider these factors as you read this brief discussion of some of the brightest offerings in contemporary American literature. Then, take a moment to consider their impact, in total.
Aurora, by Junot Diaz, is the story of a seventeen-year-old girl who is repeatedly and violently assaulted by a man of unknown age. He harbors a festering disgust for the title character and yet cannot stay away from her — and a shit-ton of drugs are consumed. The story is told by the male character’s point of view, which even he does not understand.
In Lobster Night, by Russel Banks, a former female athlete is sick and tired of being hit on by her married boss, who is twenty years her senior. One night she shoots and kills him. A lot of other guys want a piece of her, too, but she knows how to use a gun, and that’s certainly something to think about.
