The Patriarchy’s Predetermined Battle of the Sexes in "The Use of Force" Anonymous College

Society has been fascinated by the power struggle between men and women since the conception of gender. Movies and television shows about the battle of the sexes intrigued both men and women, but the real life version of the battle of the sexes is much less whimsical than the media’s portrayal. In his story “The Use of Force,” William Carlos Williams describes an encounter between a man and a young girl that is an appalling and unfortunately realistic depiction of the battle of the sexes. In the story, Mathilda is symbolically raped by the doctor when his power is threatened by her. The violent assault reflects men’s unquestioned authority and the misogyny in society that offer the foundation for violence against women and the perpetuation of male dominance and gender inequality.

The doctor reinforces his power through the symbolic raping of Mathilda because the violence he displays against her renders her helpless and forces her to obey his orders. A rape is the ultimate act of dehumanization and domination. Before attacking her, he sexualizes her. He refers to her as “an unusually attractive little thing” and later says that he “had already fallen in love with the savage brat” (1, 3). The process of sexualizing her allows the...