Historically, apprenticeships were always given to men—you know, like most things in life. You're much more likely to see the terms "Master in Journeyman" with regards to trades than "Mistress" or "Journeywoman." Even Donald Trump gives most of his apprenticeships to men. These prejudices still persist in the Revenge of the Witch universe, which isn't wholly unlike our own. The Spook has a strange aversion to those of the female persuasion, and he often tries to press his sexist views on Tom. But the women in this book are strong. It may surprise Tom and the Spook that Alice and Tom's mam can hold their own, but we never had any doubts.
Questions About Women and Femininity
- How would you characterize Tom's relationship with Alice?
- Do you think the Spook is a misogynist?
- Which female characters in the book are strong? Are there any who are stereotypically weak females?
- Do you think it's significant that the main villains in the book are female? Why or why not?