The Wheel of Time series features constant tension between men and women, shaping most interactions in the book. The binary gender and sex identities are connected to the duality shaping the series’ universe. The world is set up as a binary opposition between male and female or saidin and saidar, similar to Taoist yin-yang symbology. Neither group is shown to be dominant, despite their respective claims to the contrary.

At the time of writing and publication, The Eye of the World can be read as subverting traditional gender roles as defined by most Western and East Asian cultures. Men and women have their own structures of power, such as the Women’s Circle and the Village Council in Emond’s Field. Moreover, some rulers are women, such as Andor’s queen. There are also mentions of female warriors among the Aiel. Finally, the Aes Sedai, the most powerful political entity at the story’s start, are all women.

However, despite the fact that women in the book are empowered, gender itself remains defined traditionally. Regardless of their character traits or positions, men are described as masculine and women as feminine. In The Eye of the World, only one woman, Min, prefers to wear pants.