It is easier to find fault in others and criticize them than it is to do the same to oneself. The main character is unmarried, 34 years old, works at a job placement center, cares for her mother, and is working to put her niece through school. Her condescending attitude towards others keeps her locked in her own world, obliged to help everyone but herself.

Yes, literature can provide insights into the experiences, emotions, and societal expectations associated with being a man or woman. By exploring characters' perspectives and challenges, readers can gain a deeper understanding of gender roles, stereotypes, and the complexities of identity in different contexts.

Any answer to this quesiton would be misleading, as it is not the case fhat "most Japanese literature" is written by women. Go to any library or bookstore in Japan, and you'll see that authorship is pretty much evenly (or evenly within a certain, small, degree of error) split between men and women.