“Women Talking” Connects the Liberation of Women and Animals
Miriam Toews’ latest novel is based on something real — and the lessons it carries are real, too
For years, the residents of the Mennonite colony of Manitoba in Bolivia experienced a series of grisly rapes that left survivors with little to no memory of their attacks. Eventually, a group of men were found responsible for the crimes that were perpetrated on girls and women, and possibly boys and men as well, with the help of a chemical spray used to anesthetize cows. Even after the known culprits were found and tried, the attacks continued.
Women Talking by Miriam Toews fictionalizes the series of violent rapes that occurred in Manitoba. In Toews’ book, the women who survive the assaults meet secretly to discuss what to do. They can either do nothing, stay and fight, or leave.
Doing nothing is unconscionable, though there are a few women who have already chosen this option and subsequently do not attend the meeting. Staying and fighting would be a violation of their Mennonite faith, which advocates for pacifism. If they cannot forgive the men who harmed them, they’ll be locked out of heaven. As a result, they chose to leave, so they won’t have to confront their murderous thoughts and won’t be forced to forgive.
