The Feminist

The protagonist of “The Feminist” is an unnamed man whose self-image is built around his performance of progressive masculinity. His lack of a name is significant: he is not presented as an individual with a distinct identity but as a type, a composite figure representing a particular kind of modern man who defines himself in opposition to traditional masculinity while replicating many of its underlying dynamics. His political vocabulary and performative awareness of gender politics conceal deep insecurities and unresolved entitlement, especially when it comes to rejection.

The arc of the story traces the slow unraveling of the protagonist’s self-conception. At the beginning, he positions himself as a victim of romantic injustice, nursing elaborate grievances against women who have rejected him and justifying his feelings with reference to structural gender dynamics. He frames his disappointment as politically informed frustration, but the narrative consistently undermines this, showing...