Seven Strategies to Improve Your Support for the Women in Your Life by Lisa
Lisa Taddeo’s recent book, “Three Women,” has sparked a significant amount of debate and discussion. Despite Taddeo’s initial belief that the book was a quiet exploration of three women‘s desires, it has been met with a variety of reactions. Some view it as an essential depiction of contemporary womanhood, while others dismiss it as nonsense.
“Three Women” narrates the lives of three American women in a style reminiscent of Gay Talese’s “Thy Neighbor’s Wife.” The book explores the story of Lina, a housewife from rural Indiana who embarks on an affair after her husband refuses to kiss her. It also follows Maggie, a North Dakota woman who learns that her former high school teacher, with whom she allegedly had an affair, has been awarded the state’s Teacher Of The Year. The third woman, Sloane, is a successful entrepreneur from the Northeast whose husband enjoys watching her have sex with other men.
The book has elicited strong reactions not only for Taddeo but also for the women whose stories she tells. Some readers have expressed strong opinions about what the women should do next, prompting Taddeo to defend her subjects against such judgment.
Taddeo has consciously chosen not to judge her characters or influence their narratives. She spent months with them, resisting the urge to offer advice or affect their life trajectories. Instead, she aimed to provide empathy and understanding.
In a conversation with GQ over coffee, Taddeo discussed what both men and women can learn from her book, which made significant waves in 2019. She emphasized that while the final version of her book focuses on three women, she never stopped engaging with men during the writing process. One male character was included in several drafts before being removed late in the writing process.
Taddeo’s key takeaway is the importance of understanding that not everyone compartmentalizes experiences in the same way.
