"Women is fine once you got em pinned down, boss, but when they ain't pinned down they're hell"

This quote from John Dos Passos shows a viewpoint on gender characteristics and relationships, potentially a sign of the period or character's mindset within the story. The statement depicts a view of women as challenging or difficult unless they are under control or restriction, described metaphorically as being "pinned down". This expression recommends a desire for dominance or control in the relationship, indicating that ladies are manageable or "fine" just when their autonomy is cut.

The expression can be translated as a commentary on power characteristics, highlighting a struggle in between freedom and control. It reflects a perception of ladies as unforeseeable and potentially problematic when enabled independence. Such a viewpoint may come from standard or patriarchal norms where male authority was unchallenged, and females's functions were restricted to submissive or encouraging roles within domestic or social settings.

By mentioning "when they ain't selected they're hell", the speaker interacts a worry or aggravation with the self-reliance and company of ladies, suggesting that their liberty leads to turmoil or difficulty. This might imply an insecurity or lack of understanding in dealing with females as equates to, choosing rather the predictability of a controlled dynamic.

Dos Passos, as an author, often explored styles of social change, class struggle, and individual versus collective identity. Thus, this quote could likewise be seen as critiquing modern societal standards and stress in gender relations. It highlights how some males view females's emancipation as threatening to standard power structures.

This viewpoint can promote discourse on how historic contexts affect gender perceptions and the continuous development of equality in relationships. It likewise invites reflection on how language and expressions shape and reflect cultural attitudes towards gender functions. Such conversations remain pertinent in checking out how far society has actually come and the difficulties that continue accomplishing gender equality.