while the writing is still not my fav, i am enjoying the layers of what O'Neill is putting on the table, so to speak

"There was no use fighting for any other rights if these were not secured. They were prisoners to their own children. They simple could not take up any space in culture. They could not be scientist. They could not be politicians. They could not be artists." (George)

"We cannot have people understand that violence against the lower-class is a crime until we witness someone being punished for it. Only then will people know the seriousness of their own crimes. Only then will they feel regret. Only then will they feel fear." (Mary)

"Things happen best when they happen slowly," said George. "You need to educate the women worker and then she'll be respected."

just in this chapter, this conversation between Mary and George, we see how much they disagree with what's the "right" next step even when they are supposedly on the same side. and it's such an interesting look at feminism and the many traps and areas for faults.

each women in this story is fighting for different things, but they also fail in their own way: 1. Marie is fighting patriarchy: heir to her father's sugar factory, but struggles for respect—becomes more aggressive, demanding, mean to be valued. 2. Sadie is fighting sexuality: she's deemed not a proper woman, promiscuous, a "whore" bc she values sex and doesn't fit into feminine standards—devalues the relationships she makes. 3. George is fighting gender and autonomy: doesn't fit the mold for how gender stereotypes are expressed, understands the mortality of women's health care—puts women in boxes on what they can/can't do within their roles. 4. Mary is fighting classism: she wants to destroy the upper class that has led to so much struggle for her and the working class—yet, actually reveries the wealth and wants it herself.

all the women fight against each other, and each has suffered in their own way. womanhood is constantly being pitted against each other to make their fight most important, more valuable to "women's rights" first. and the result, we harm each other and each fight in the process. when intersectionality doesn't exist within your feminism, we get this.