Women

Growing Up is as much the story of Lucy's life as Russell's, and in both their lives, the position of women in the family and in society is an important element. Russell presents Lucy's split perspective early in the book. Lucy, in high school, argues heartily for women's suffrage, declaring it a moral right. However, Lucy also sees women as the force behind successful men, instead of people who are successful in the world in their own right. A woman can, at best, become a teacher or a nurse. A woman's true calling is to be the matriarch who reforms a man and keeps him on the path to success.

Russell absorbs many of Lucy's notions about women, and he grows up with the idea that he must marry a "good woman" who will help him succeed. Russell is ignorant of women in many ways. He doesn't understand...