Heller purposely provided readers with minimal information on women which is proved by the lack of the numbers of women in the novel. When a women is mentioned in the novel it serves no purpose for the novel besides to benefit a male character. Readers are definitely not given much information on a women besides if she is either a ‘whore’ or a nurse who is also used for sexual desire.
Nately’s whore, is a great example of how women are degraded in Heller’s novel, readers are unaware of what her birth name are, they only know that, that is Nately’s whore, in order words, his property. Nurses who are employed in the novel are not being noted for their great accomplishments, rather that is completely disregarded and they are only mentioned when they are being used on a sexual level. Not one of the women had the respect of the men, even though men use the term ‘love’ toward women, they only loved their priority to please them which is dehumanize and demeaning.
Women were replaceable, accessible and available for men. They are expected to obey and fulfill every one of the mens wishes. In conclusion Heller makes it clear that during the Second War, men were dominant and women were seen as sex objects and prizes for the men.