The Strike of a Sex: A Novel.

“The Strike of a Sex: A Novel” by George Noyes Miller is a novel written in the late 19th century. Set against a backdrop of social upheaval, the story delves into the consequences of women collectively withdrawing from traditional roles to demand control over their own bodies and lives. Through its fictional premise, the book addresses themes of gender equality, personal autonomy, and societal reform, presenting its arguments through the eyes of its male protagonist and those he encounters in a world transformed by the unprecedented “Great Woman’s Strike.” The opening of “The Strike of a Sex” introduces Rodney Carford, who arrives in a city thrown into disarray and gloom by the complete absence of women. Through Carford’s bewildered perspective, the reader encounters a society unravelled: men are dishevelled, homes are untidy, and joy is gone. Carford soon learns from locals—including Justin Lister, a young man affected deeply by the Strike—that the women have withdrawn to demand not just political and economic rights (now rapidly granted), but above all, an irrevocable right to their own bodily autonomy, especially in matters of maternity. The mood blends gently satirical social commentary with earnest advocacy, and the narrative quickly introduces the profound impact of the strike on every aspect of life—from household order to the abolition of prostitution, to desperate debates over the future of the human race, all leading toward a climax hinging on women’s “Magna Charta”: the full right to consent to motherhood.