Iron Widow

Iron Widow’s central theme is the oppression of women under patriarchy, and the novel extensively explores the various ways in which women choose to resist that oppression. To develop this aspect, Zhao uses the genre conventions of dystopian science fiction to create a world in which misogyny is exaggerated to the extreme. This stylistic choice allows Zhao to highlight a variety of contemporary issues surrounding patriarchal oppression, a primary aspect of which revolves around the common practice of reducing women’s bodies to mere objects for men to use, enjoy, and discard. Wu Zetian is therefore an anomaly in her world; other women simply do not have the ability to openly defy men as she does. At first, Zetian believes that this is because she is uniquely strong compared to other women, a conviction that ironically reinforces the existing stereotypes about women being inherently weaker or lesser than men. As Zetian progresses through her journey, however, she realizes that resisting patriarchy isn’t a simple matter and that women are often bound by patriarchal chains in complicated ways.

Ma Xiuying’s betrayal and the intervention of the Heavenly Council illustrate that resisting oppression isn’t just a matter of willpower. Xiuying is the first woman to speak openly with Zetian about these issues and to chastise her for believing that other women are weaker simply because they acquiesce to patriarchal norms. When Xiuying offers cosmetics for Zetian to cover up her bruises, Zetian is repulsed by the very idea of concealing evidence of domestic violence, believing instead that all men who commit domestic violence against their concubine-pilots should be killed. In this context, Xiuying serves as a direct foil, as well as a symbol to represent those women for whom practical considerations (such as their family’s safety) prevent any attempts at open rebellion. She reminds Zetian that not every woman can be an Iron Widow capable of openly defying men and comments, “[You] have to realize that most concubine pilots can’t just make a scene. The safety and livelihood of their families are on the line” (192). Women who are not Zetian have children, relatives, and siblings to care for; they do not have the time, resources, or connections to enact justice. Killing abusive men and enacting justice require power the likes of which women are systemically stripped in Huaxia. Ma Xiuying demonstrates this when she betrays Zetian in order to save her own children from the government.

Representing the patriarchal forces in this world is the enigmatic Heavenly Council, which stands as the real power behind the government and is thus responsible for the abysmal treatment of women in Huaxia. This dynamic is evidenced by the Council’s demand for women to serve as sacrifices alongside Hundun husks. The Heavenly Council’s reinforcement of patriarchy is baldly apparent in their mission to terrorize and exploit the Indigenous Hunduns on their own planet, for in order to execute this society-wide plan, the women in Huaxia are expected to give up everything—even their lives—for men in order to support the war effort. Additionally, the patriarchal repression of women in Huaxia is strongly linked to the colonization of the conquered planet and the ongoing genocide waged against the Hunduns. Sadly, despite being the strongest pilot alive, Zetian is ultimately incapable of overcoming Huaxia’s patriarchy, for despite her successes in battle, the overarching system remains unconquered. Thus the revelation of Huaxia’s true nature as a colony suggests that patriarchy is bound up with other forms of oppression such as colonization, and that resisting its control is complicated and cannot be achieved through brute force alone.