Glengarry Glen Ross

First off: loved the play, even though typically I am very against reading plays because, in my opinion, they were meant to be seen, not read. Anyway! This was an exception to me. The characters were very well played and I enjoyed reading it.
I don't really see Mamet as anti-women, really. I saw his characters at times being anti-women but not misogynists.
It seems clear with Levene- he is very concerned about his daughter and you see his devotion to her throughout the play. I especially liked the movie's portrayal of this sub-plot. In the play and movie, you see Levene calling the hospital to check on her, and attempt to speak to her. Men may have problems with women but once they have daughters that seems to change, huh?
As for the other characters, I didn't see a distaste for women in general but for particular women. There is some bitterness over "that guy's ex" for ruining a deal and "deadbeats" signing contracts they have no intention of buying, but this bitterness seems directed at their own personal and professional losses.

How are we to deal with the women in the play? As merely background? They are somewhat important but you never see them- like Romeo and Juliet's Rosaline -there for emotional substance filling in otherwise empty character developments. We see these men as constantly moving people, concerned with their jobs and careers and the women add to that concern. Levene's daughter is the perfect example. I didn't really feel sorry for him when, at the end, he turns to his boss and says "My daughter...?"

This blog has proved somewhat difficult for me as the question caught me by surprise. Mamet's women hadn't really come to mind actively as I was reading or watching as much as the gripping plot twist did.