Unproven Statements of Daisy (Julian)

In Critical Theory Today, Lois Tyson seems to have a poorly-thought out, unproved perceptions of Daisy's relationship with Tom. She depicts Daisy as an woman who uses her relationship as a tool to cover her insecurities, saying "Falling so much in love with a man who was openly unfaithful to her suggests an unconscious belief that she doesn't deserve better. Furthermore, Daisy's insecurity, like Tom's, frequently requires the ego reinforcement obtained by impressing others..." (page 42). I completely disagree with the above statement. While I agree that her relationship with Tom is built upon insecurities, I can't believe she subconsciously sees herself as desperate. She and Tom both subconsciously understand each other: They both have affairs (Tom with Myrtle, Daisy with Gatsby), yet neither seems to care. As Lois herself points out, it's because they want to avoid opening up emotionally, saying "Dividing his [Tom's] interest, time, and energy between two women protects him from real intimacy with either." In this sense, they seem to be an advanced form of "friends with benefits:" They both consensually betray each other. I feel that it is strange to see Tom as smug and superior and Daisy and submissive and unwanted when both are taking advantage of each other, and those unfortunate enough to believe them (such as Myrtle and Gatsby). In Conclusion, I feel that Tyson has gotten separate results from two nearly-identical situations, even though she is applying the same "lens" to both.