The Female Man Men and Masculinity Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Part.Section.Paragraph)

Quote #1

When the—ah—the plague you spoke of killed the men on Whileaway, weren't they missed? Weren't families broken up? Didn't the whole pattern of life change? (1.7.23)

More than one character in this novel—male and female alike—believes that women and men are one another's natural complements. Why does the novel suggest that this is a patriarchal point of view?

Quote #2

"Savages!" she shouted. A hush had fallen on the party. The host leafed dexterously through his little book of rejoinders but did not come up with anything. Then he looked up "savage" only to find it marked with an affirmative: "Masculine, brute, virile, powerful, good." So he smiled broadly. (3.2.165)

When Janet calls the Host of the party on Riverside Drive a "savage," all she does is vindicate his masculinity. What insult could she have used instead? When the Host insults her back, why does he choose the language he does?

Quote #3

The little blue book was rattling around in my purse. I took it out and turned to the last thing he had said ("You stupid broad" et cetera). Underneath was written Girl backs down—cries—manhood vindicated. Under "Real Fight With Girl" was written Don't hurt (except whores). (3.2.191)

The Female Man makes it clear that violence against women is a learned behavior. According to the novel, who or what teaches this behavior? (Grand Theft Auto, we're lookin' at you.)