As a woman, Karana has been educated in traditionally feminine tasks: gathering, caregiving, cooking. She’s never had to care about how to make an effective weapon, so now she finds herself at a disadvantage. When she does successfully construct weapons, though, it shows that women weren’t forbidden from making weapons because they’re naturally incapable. Rather, it was just a way to ensure everything got done. As a single person on the island, though, Karana’s sex starts to matter much less—she has to do everything for herself now.