Why Do Men Have Nipples?

[Diana York Blaine]

Wow!  From reading my Pynchon digest this morning I've learned there's no
such thing as "homosexuality" and no such place as "Africa"!  Next you'll
probably tell me that Diana Ross and Michael Jackson ARE the same person.
As self-appointed house feminist I wanted to two cents on Pynchon's women.
I'm not sure it's fair to say no male characters are realistic either
and/or that it's all too cartoony to say.  If Pynchon were "mere" cartoon
I don't think we would re-read him as much as read him.  I do think the
ability to draw female characters--particularly but not exclusively for
male authors--is hampered by our cultural construction of femininity as
always already Other.  In other words, the lesson this morning is that
there's no such thing as "Woman"!  So how on earth could we depict one
accurately?  Having said that I credit Faulkner's Addie Bundren with being
one of the most "real" female characters I read. Warts and All.   Diana