The Women – Kristin Hannah – “Thank God for girlfriends. In this crazy, chaotic, divided world that was run by men, you could count on the women.”

This being our first Kristin Hannah novel, I can understand why she has become one of the exponents of historical fiction and women’s fiction. In “The Women,” Hannah fights to bring visibility to the silenced and forgotten voices of a terrible era for the United States and Vietnam through the themes of sexism, gender roles, social expectations, and sisterhood.

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“The Women” starts with a jubilee scene of a party where Frankie is conflicted about her brother leaving for war and for the infamous “hero wall” full of men of her family that went to war. This wall has always been a mind bug for Frankie as only men are permitted to war, and she is supposed to behave like a model daughter in the 50s: be pretty, behave in society, and get married. However, from the starting point and seeing her questioning the wall and her brother’s departure to war, the reader understands that Kristin is setting Frankie on a journey of self-discovery while challenging society and what is expected of her because not only will she defy the patriarchal figure in her house but she will do so by facing a male-dominated scene. However, her rebellion comes also together with her desire to be professionally fulfilled and not have a title as part of her “to marry resume.”

Aside from challenging gender roles, Hannah also portrays the many challenges female soldiers endured during the Vietnam War. The novel portrays the horrible reality many women struggle with as they are rejected, gaslighted, and their efforts diminished by not being “war soldiers” but “war nurses” as if their struggles, trauma, and losses did not count compared to those men that escape alive from violent attacks. During the novel, we see how doctors and fellow veterans related Frankie’s pains to “menstrual cycles” or even up front said, “There were no women in Nam.” However, we know that between 7500 and 55000 women were part of the Vietnam War in different roles like nurses, military officers, Red Cross Donut Dollies, civilians, and missionaries.

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Although a challenging story, the author highlights the importance of having a robust network of support in the family we build and our friendships who understand our suffering and struggles. The sisterhood between Frankie and her fellow nurses and how they helped each other survive the collateral damage of war and trauma are primordial themes to remember. Kristin masterfully portrays the resilience and solidarity among women, illustrating how these bonds are not just a source of comfort but a vital means of survival. This narrative underscores the imperative of women fighting together and standing in unity as they navigate a male-dominated world founded on violence and focused on tearing them apart. The camaraderie between Frankie and her fellow nurses transcends mere friendship, which symbolizes the perennial struggle for gender equality and recognition. Through their collective strength, Frankie and her compatriots challenge the oppressive structures around them and carve together spaces of empowerment, well-being, and change.

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