Why Do Men Have Nipples?

[Mark Libin]

Diane York Blaine writes:

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.  

	I guess I have a question or two about this statement. The way 
you talk about "'real' female characters" makes me wonder if you see 
something essential and fundamental in "Woman." Some of the other values 
you have labeled "female": vulnerability, intuition, etc. seems to 
suggest that there are inherent and even universal characteristics of 
"Woman," including her determination as "Other." Am I getting you right 
on this? 
	And if this is the case, how do you define this concept against 
the totalizing and phallic tendencies usually associated with men? Is it 
not the male impulse towards the monologic that usually lumps women into 
one big Object, in order that she be knowable?
	Trying to bring this back to Pynchon, couldn't one say that 
Pynchon is very self-conscious about the impulse to turn the Other into a 
fixed and delimited Object? Isn't that, most especially, one of the main 
threads of V? I think I could also argue that the figure of Pierce in 
COL49 is highly feminized in his unknowability. Our only glimpse of him 
is in a scene where his voice is always changing from one imitation to 
the next. Do we ever hear the true voice? 
	Just some first time rambling. Take it for what it's worth...

Mark