What primarily binds the many characters together in Of Women and Salt are the struggles the women face at the hands of men and the effect it has on their lives; the fuerza (force) that recurs throughout is a cry, in part, of shared support among not just the novel’s characters but women everywhere (and indeed is meant as a call to women across national boundaries). In many cases, this oppression is obvious: Daniel viciously and regularly beats Dolores in ways that are extreme even for a time and place when domestic abuse was routinely excused; likewise, Julio abuses Carmen and Jeanette physically, sexually, and emotionally. However, even the “good” men in the novel take part in forms of oppression and abuse rooted in patriarchy: For example, although Mario isn’t overwhelmingly negative, he neglects Jeanette and hits her on at least one occasion; Antonio, also, is largely passionate and loving yet pushes his own will on María Isabel more than once. The novel puts these men on a spectrum within an oppressive system rather than on poles of good or bad.

In many cases, women seek refuge with and help from one another.