Perspectives

Current issues

The short story “Cat Person” was published in 2017 during the #MeToo feminist movement. The movement spread over social media as a hashtag soon after film producer Harvey Weinstein was accused of sexually harassing and abusing his female employees. 

The short story’s final part, which presents Margot and Robert’s sexual encounter, raises some questions about whether Margot was not actually a victim of sexual abuse. Although she initiates sex, Margot does not want to go on with it but feels that stopping things would upset Robert and be uncomfortable. Margot is also drunk when she has sex with Robert, which raises some questions about whether she openly gave her consent for the sexual encounter. While Margot’s experience is not a clear example of sexual abuse, it shows that many women ...