1.   Notice Frye’s warning that some people will refuse to change their views, regardless of the strength of the opposite argument. Don’t be such a person.

2.   Frye’s basic thesis is simple: that the differences between males and females are artificially exaggerated so as to make it clear which sex one belongs to, and that those who are put in the male category gain tremendous advantage over those in the female category.

3.   What evidence does she provide to suggest that we actively move to ‘announce our sexes’? Why do we do this?

4.   What happens when someone refuses to follow the sex-coded styles we have set up? Why are we so hostile?

5.   Frye thinks that this coding system has unfair consequences. Give some examples.

6.   What is Frye’s analysis of fashion? How does sex-coding disadvantage women?

7.   How does Frye define oppression? How does sex-coding help to oppress women?

8.   What is Frye’s response to those who claim that sex differences are natural?

9.   What evidence does Frye present to counter the claim that there are significant natural differences?

10.   Frye rejects the standard division of ‘nature vs. nurture’. What does she replace this with? [This is a tough question. The most accessible part of the answer can be found in her treatment of ‘habit’.]

11.   "But now biological does not mean genetically determined or inevitable. It just means of the animal." (p. 261) What is the significance of this quotation?