In Roxane Gay's "Bad Feminist: Essays," she explores societal perceptions of women, particularly focusing on the character Mavis. Mavis embodies traits that lead others to label her as unlikable, and individuals around her seek a diagnosis to justify their discomfort. This need for explanation points to a cultural tendency to pathologize women's behavior rather than accept them as complex human beings.

Gay highlights how society often struggles to embrace women's flaws. The simplistic view of Mavis as simply human isn’t enough for people; they want to understand her through a lens of dysfunction. This reflects broader issues in how women are judged and the unrealistic expectations placed upon them, showing that women must often meet societal norms to be accepted.