This can be seen with the main antagonist ,Lord Iida, who has secured alliances by arranging marriages between clans (Kaede and Lord Otori) has participated in battle (Yamegahara) and punished those who did not please him (hanging and killing people from the Hidden). This shows that men have the freedom and power to do as they wish. Hearn has reflected on a society where everyone must be politically cautious to succeed.
Kaede's experiences are ideal to parallel representations of women in the book. Kaede is the eldest daughter from the Shirakawa family, that initially was a respected family up until the battle of Yamegahara, where the family made the wrong alliances. As a result of this Kaede was taken hostage by Lord Noguchi whom betrayed the Otori and allied with Lord Iida. Kaede is uncomfortable with her surroundings as she has no input to choices small to big made in her life all of which being made my men . Lian Hearn has duplicated attitudes from the real Feudal Japan where women were shown as not capable of making decisions. This can be further demonstrated with Lady Maruyama when Takeo listened to servants gossip;" Lady Maruyama who held her land in her own right the only domain handed down to daughters not sons". " Lord Iida finds this offensive" (page 19). It is shown that the decision of a woman is not valued or considered. The author has reflected on the sexist attitudes of Feudal Japan, which at the time was under Samurai rule. Women who grew up during this period were taught to believe they were inferior, and that they were to serve men. Hence why men are seen as the ultimate decision makers. Kaede becomes frustrated with this inferior role and thinks to herself that; "Why do women have to suffer this way? Why don't we have the freedom men have?" (page 105).
This portrays the treatment of women in the book, they have less power, rights and freedom.
