Feminism in Braided LivesMarge Piercy is well known for her feminist views and attitudes throughout her novels. Braided Lives is no exception. The novel follows Piercy's model of feminist writing. The characters in the novel are victims of society's crimes against women. The protagonist, Jill, deals with many issues, including rape and abortion. Because of his own experiences with these issues, it becomes his passion to help others in the same situation. Jill constantly strives to control her own life; this struggle is another facet of the feminist movement. The novel's goal is to "make its readers more attentive to the current attack on legal abortion and to make them more eager to defend the imperiled gains of the women's movement" (Pollitt 378). Jill and her companions encounter many difficulties. situations involving rape. At age 14, Jill was attacked by her boyfriend Freddie. This occurs at a time when Jill is first discovering her own sexuality and who she is. This experience has an effect on Jill into adulthood. In the novel, she recounts this experience four years later, as she prepares to leave for university. Jill remembers this event in great detail. I see his hard, angry face and remember the terror that gripped me on the kitchen floor when I realized he wouldn't listen to my firm, loud voice that time. Terror shook me violently... (30). Jill's cousin and roommate, Donna, is violently raped by a townsman. Donna comes to see Jill after the rape. She was beaten physically and emotionally. Piercy describes the rape and its aftermath in great detail. devoting several pages to describing the horrific acts. Jill won't leave Donna and treats her. Jill takes it upon herself to defend and protect Donna from the man who raped her. This is just one of many times Jill defends and protects her friends from society throughout Braided Lives. Fighting for a woman's right to abortion becomes Jill's passion in life. It is the result of his own experiences and those of his friends. When Jill is a freshman in college, she becomes pregnant by her boyfriend. Neither is ready to take on the responsibility of marriage or a child.