I admired Atwood's imagination and technique that she used. I wonder how the movie for this book was like. The book, however, does little to contradict the poor general impression of women. Jubal's secretaries apparently have nothing better to do with their lives than swim in a swimming pool and leap out at his command to take dictation. I don't want a job where I have to do that.
Few women do.
The women in this novel exist to be fantasies for men - we've got the three gorgeous secretaries, Jill the exhibitionist, Patty the tattooed lady, and the Dawn the best stripper in Baja. And they all want to have sex with Michael. In fact, it is that very issue that took me out of a very philosophical work and into reality. I found this quote particularly interesting being a biology major. Mike explains that competing and weeding is essential to the survival of a race.