The lack of respect for women and the lack of important female characters would make one think that Mamet favors his own sex and looks down on the opposite sex. In fact, on page 96 of the play Roma is so outraged at Williamson for making him lose his deal that he calls him a "cunt." This word is derogatory on its own, but the situation in which Roma uses it and the tone he uses shows that he has no respect for women. This is not the only example that could be shown as degrading to women, but what is more important is all the evidence against men.
On the surface, the play seems to have no female characters at all. However, women, or the lack thereof, are a huge factor in the power of the play. The setting of the play is in a male-dominated society and the main characters are males who seem to have no respect for women or for anything but money and power. The characters display a great vulgarity and put each other down. The exaggerated language serves to make the men look even viler and very unintelligent, I might add. These men cheat and lie and deceive and do whatever necessary to get to the top. The business they are in and they themselves are interpreted so that one could not possibly see anything good or respectful in them.
Also, the few female characters there are, are better than the men. First there is Levene's daughter. She actually means something to Levene and while his job is disgraceful, she is his motivation. This could seem negative, but it shows that a woman, even an invalid one, can still inspire others.
Mrs. Lingk is also another great example of a strong woman. Clearly, she wears the pants in the relationship with James Lingk. She tells James he must refuse Roma and she will not take no for an answer according to Lingk. In fact, Lingk is so fearful of his wife that even with her not around, he will not speak out against her to Roma. This shows the power and influence of the female and further makes the male characters look weak.
As for Harriet Nyborg, well she could be seen to be just as bad as the men she deceives. The fact that she deceives Levene, the one with the sick daughter, who is struggling to pay the bills, and who later loses his job, certainly this makes her seem heartless and show that women are not much better than men. Maybe that was Mamet's point—that men and women are equally despicable. If Mamet's point was to show all the flaws of our society and the bitter truth of human nature, that opens up a whole new, but very valid, can of worms.
Going back to Harriet Nyborg though, she most likely did not know about Levene's pathetic situation. However, if I were her, pity would not have swayed me. Her cheating Levene and many other salesmen out of their sales shows that she is fighting back. She knows that salesmen will say anything at the expense of customers so long as they make a sale and take their customers' money. She is fighting against the idea than men are superior; she is fighting against the corrupt practices of a society thriving on greed. She is made to look like such an insignificant part of the play, but in reality, she is the strongest character. She, and the rest of the women, serve to accentuate the corrupt men and show them for the weasels they really are. This is not a man's world, it's everyone's world.
I agree that these men show no real respect for women due to their verbal language. I agree that the play seems to have no women at all. I also agree with what you said about Levene's daughter. she served as a motivation for him to do better at this job, and ultimately, to try to get ahead by stealing the leads and selling them to Jerry Graff. I also liked how you interpreted the Nyborg's (Harriet's)cheating of the salesmen. I did not know how to interpret that situation. I agree that if she had known of Levene's "hanging on a limb" situation, perhaps she would not have "played" him for his time for so long. But yeah, she fights back. I really liked how you described her as "an insignificant part of the play".
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