The Women: A Novel

From the beginning of The Women, Frankie is reluctant to pursue a socialite’s life as her traditional parents wish. She desires a career and a purpose beyond being a wife and mother. Specifically, she wants to help others through emotional support and healthcare, as reflected in her college major in nursing. Frankie’s mother in particular believes college is optional for women as they await marriage, and thus cannot understand why she desires a career. This opinion speaks to the family’s privilege, but also the time’s downplaying of women’s agency and ambitions in general: In late 1960s America, a woman’s purpose and place were widely accepted to be in the home.

Frankie attempts to align her desire for a life of purpose with her family’s values and beliefs. Knowing veterans are revered by her family, Frankie believes she could become a hero in her own right by joining her soldier brother Finley in Vietnam. In serving as a nurse for American soldiers, she experiences difficulty but successfully hones her skills. Her superiors recognize her resolve and promote her to the OR, then the 71st Evacuation Hospital where she encounters more casualties. Frankie feels fulfilled in her work, knowing she is instrumental in saving lives.