Agree, I addressed a but of that in my answer below. He definitly could have nuanced more the different Inrithi cultures (not to mention the Fanim, and the Scylvandi), he does show different attitudes to homosexuality, after all. As it is the sexism of all societies seem very strangely homogenous for such a vast setting.

The Ikurei family feels all kind of head-scratching. I'm willing to believe that people might be that nuts on occasion, but there's an overthetop to it that never failed to defuddle me.

But maybe, that's Bakker's intention writing a story that is constructed of our "cultural" biases and not the portrayal of any real culture.
Errr... maybe?