Engaging with this novel feels like playing three-dimensional chess or assembling a mosaic. Every piece revealed connects to others, but the connections only become clear once everything is laid out. Russ utilizes a parallel-universe structure along with various female narrators and characters to vividly illustrate the complexity of human nature. Readers are encouraged to examine each unique piece, with its distinct textures and colors, to find patterns and ultimately assemble a cohesive mosaic.

1. This work has been described as a "feminist novel." Do you agree with this characterization? What evidence supports your view?

2. What societal norms does Russ critique in The Female Man?

3. Do you appreciate Russ's use of a woman's journal to unfold the plot? What alternative techniques could she have used?

4. What insights does this book offer about the nature of men and women?

5. Read "When It Changed" (1974) by Russ and compare the all-female world of Whileaway to the settings in The Female Man.

6. Russ argues that this novel exposes the "insanity of a male chauvinist society." Compare it to Philip Wylie's The Disappearance, which portrays a world where all males vanish from the female population. Which society is more likely to thrive? What happens when one gender must assume all roles?

7. How do Russ's characters illustrate that we all possess multiple facets and dimensions to our personalities? What does each female character represent? What traits do they share?

8. The language used by each female character reveals much about their personalities. Identify an example that you believe best represents each character. Why did you select that particular example?

9. How does Russ portray the men in the lives of these female characters?

10. Are there positive elements within the societies depicted in this novel? Describe these various societies. Why do you think Russ chose these particular "realities" over others?