Three Women is an adaptation of the non-fiction book by Lisa Taddeo for three women and their sexual desires and how tradition and norms affect them and their lives. The series which is set in present time is based on the life of Gia (Shailene Woodley), a journalist writing a book on sexual life in America. Through her, we meet the three main characters: Lina, a frustrated housewife from Indiana is a woman who is living an unhappy marriage with no love involved. Her husband Ed does not touch her or give her physical display of affection being a kiss.
Sloane (DeWanda Wise) is a women from Massachusetts who works and is sexually and emotionally involved with her husband named Richard. They are very particular with her affairs, and the relationship becomes complicated when Sloane starts dating someone who tests the limits of their togetherness. Independent, sexually conquering 23-year old Maggie (Gabrielle Creevy) was once in a relationship with her teacher Aaron (Jason Ralph) which became unlawful and the case was taken to court and the result favored the teacher thus making her a emotionally violated woman. Her conflict is what the series is all about; she tries to search for the truth and maybe salvation by disputing the narrative that was painted about her. She shows how emotional trauma may affect a woman throughout her life.
Is Maggie Wilken Based on a Real Person in Three Women?
Yes, Maggie Wilken is indeed based on a real person in Lisa Taddeo’s book “Three Women”. The story about her and Aaron Knodel is real and tells about her teenage years and their relationship. In 2014, Maggie sued him stating that they had a sexual relationship while she was only 17 years old, and the man was 29 years old. At the time, Knodel was a married teacher at West Fargo High School and had recently been awarded North Dakota Teacher of the Year. Maggie alleged that their relationship included inappropriate encounters, such as kissing and oral sex, while his children slept upstairs in their home. Although no penetrative sex occurred, the nature of their relationship was deeply troubling. In contrast with the other women depicted in the book, Maggie did not veil her identity choosing to publish her story and demand recognition of her story.
At the trial, Maggie described the shared bond they had, including one instance in which she gifted Knodel a copy of Twilight with highlights and notes from him. They had many phone calls and most of them were at night and the prosecution was able to capture these through their records. Nevertheless, Knodel, in his defense, refuted such allegations by stating that be was only concerned with sorting out some issues with Maggie.
It was in June, 2015 that Knodel was acquitted of several charges with the school board also reinstating him with full pay. Such a verdict only intensified Maggie feeling of isolation and abandonment by the society. Most of the community sided with Knodel with students from Sheyenne High School holding a protest towards Wilken. Wilken was subjected to public mockery, depression and victim-blaming, some of which accused her of not crying during the trial.
This real-life story was an eye-opener and the author Lisa Taddeo came across Maggie Wilken’s story while she was researching the recently concluded trial in the newspapers. Fascinated by the case, Taddeo took several years to interact with Wilken and escort her to the venues where she said she met with Knodel. This was especially the case with Wilken who was glad to be part of “Three Women” so that she could tell her side of the story and have closure, which was something she felt was not granted to her by the legal system.
Maggie Wilken, currently at her age of 30s, is an outpatient therapist in Fargo and also obtained her MSW, LGSW from North Dakota and LM SW in Minnesota. She still remains friends with Lisa Taddeo and she was a consultant to the producer of the TV Show based on “Three Women”.
Maggie Wilken’s character in “Three Women” highlights the strength of woman despite the calamities, hardships or devastating and sad experiences life throws towards them. These enciseperiences to be aware of the need to learn more about the issues related with the reporting of sexual misconduct allegations and what needs to be done towards helping the survivors when they have to go through the effects of a traumatic event.