As I prepped dinner for the family last evening --trying to not lose a finger in the process while simultaneously chopping vegetables and pondering-- it occurred to me the complaint I've read a number of times about LOST's male characters so far having much more presence and sway than the females characters (a complaint expressed with varying degrees of angst and outrage behind the assertion) might indeed be justified.

"If so," I mused over the celery, "then is this imbalance of masculine and feminine power accidental, a product of either naive or cynical sexism on the writers’ part, or deliberate and intentional as a calculated essential element of the LOST formula?" Given how little seems accidental or meaningless in LOST, I'd figure this is intentional.

If intentional, then how would they plan for the imbalanced distribution of power vis a vis male and female roles to become resolved?

Temporally, I am guessing, with the female characters stepping forward much more distinctly in the remainder of this season and during the next season -probably to fix many of the messes the males have made and perhaps, ultimately, to save the day. If early in LOST the males dominated and the problematic juxtapositions consequently worsened, then logically --if the male-female dharma must balance out-- the females should be taking lead in the latter portion of LOST’s unfolding, proving themselves key to resolving the problems. This would balance the imbalance of male and female significance in the whole equation, overall.

So perhaps Penelope, Kate, Sun, Juliette, Rose, and Charlotte will emerge more strongly as characters in the remainder of LOST. Also, I’d expect we will see Naomi again, as well as Alex, Libby, Rousseau and some of the other women of LOST who died in a distinctly sacrificial manner (does this include Shannon?) ...versus simply expiring via their dharma becoming balanced --like Anna Lucia-- or just as red shirts (like the Other gal gunned down by Keamy’s mercs outside a house in New Otherton).

Since my guess is Locke, Jack, and Ben all must work cooperatively together in order to succeed (and maybe Desmond, Michael, and Sayid as well), in order for the balance to be maintained this would mean some females who are not particularly trusting of one another will also be doing likewise: Juliette, Kate, and Kim -perhaps cooperating with Penelope? (I am figuring Charlotte as being one of Abaddon’s dark minions).

I think I’ll modify my previous guess a little bit: instead of Jack being the one to do whatever heroic sacrificial act it is that saves and/or heals the time-space rift and/or Aaron-Jacob (and thus the island and the planet), I am guessing it will be Kate, instead, who has the really critical sacrificial role. They will still have to operate as a team and will still end up as Adam and Eve, but with significantly more emphasis for Kate than I had been figuring previously. It is not that she --instead of he-- will be The One, but rather that they will be equally essential members of a critically important team, not the hero and his cute sidekick; my guess is Jack would fail in doing whatever it is he must do successfully at the critical moment if it were not for Kate taking the lead.

Did you hear that?!? I thought I just heard a collective gasp of horror followed by a howl of outrage from hundreds of Kate-hating Jack worshipers.

Personally, I’d still prefer for Jack and Kate to nobly sacrifice themselves attempting to save Aaron from Abaddon and it turn out to be Penelope and Desmond who end up as Adam and Eve.