In the two-dimensional society of Flatland, women are regarded as exceptionally dangerous creatures because their pointed, needle-like configuration allows them to become practically invisible when viewed from the front or rear. While a side view reveals them as a straight line, looking at their eye or mouth appears as a bright point, and their darker posterior serves as an effective natural cloak of invisibility. Because accidental collisions with an invisible or pointed female can result in instant destruction, various legal codes have been enacted across different states to mitigate this constant hazard.
To manage this risk, state laws generally enforce three main decrees regarding women. Houses must feature a dedicated Eastern entrance exclusively for female family members, women must continuously sound a peace cry in public under penalty of death, and any female suffering from conditions causing involuntary movements must be immediately destroyed. Additional regional regulations have mandated specific walking habits or total seclusion, though overly severe restrictions often backfire by provoking domestic uprisings and violence. Beyond formal laws, social customs play a crucial role in safety, as upper-class women naturally maintain a rhythmic rear oscillation or posterior movement to warn others of their presence.
Because women lack any degree, angle, or cerebral capacity, they are entirely devoid of memory, reflection, and judgment. This cognitive deficit means their sudden fits of rage ignore all familial ties, and they can quickly forget both their violent outbursts and the promises used to pacify them. While lower-class military households frequently suffer from domestic massacres due to the tactical imprudence and stubbornness of male soldiers, higher-class circles ensure safety through architectural design and strict household customs. Ultimately, though women possess no hope of social evolution or intellectual improvement, their lack of memory and foresight spares them from dwelling on the humiliation and hardships inherent to their existence.