Matriarchy In Cuckoo's Nest

Until modern times, society advocated that a man's role was at work, while a woman was required to stay home and assume the role of the main caregiver. Men were given power and authority, and women, conversely, were expected to be meek and subservient. These roles extended beyond the family and out into society, and materialized in areas such as education, politics, and occupations. In One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Ken Kesey uses the …

…these women exemplify the notion that women are to blame for the ills of soicety. Kesey does introduce the characters of Candy Starr and the girl in the cotton mill, both of whom stand in stark contrast to the matrons of the hospital. He also has McMurphy mention that "ball-cutters" can be any age or gender. These parts of the novel show hints of gender equality that the rest of the book appears to ignore.