Power and Autonomy

Over the course of the novel, the protagonists Pamela Schumacher and Ruth Wachowsky seek power within their circumstances and autonomy over their lives. Both of the women have learned to demur to their family’s and culture’s expectations of who they are allowed to be. Pamela is known in her social sphere as Pam Perfect: the organized young woman who will do anything to please those around her. Although she lets this identity dictate her life, she often feels entrapped by her parents’, friends’, boyfriend’s, and sorority’s ideas of who she is. Because she adheres to cultural expectations of femininity, Pamela has no power or autonomy over her experience. The same is true of Ruth, whose family has pathologized her sexuality and consigned her to the margins of the family and society. It is not until Tina befriends both Pamela and...