What is the significance of fruit in Sexing the Cherry?

Images of a banana and a pineapple are dividers in the book, serving as visual clues of who the narrator is. However, while the banana is generally considered a symbol of the male genitalia, it introduces the narratives of the dog-woman. Similarly, the symbolism of the pineapple is reversed by introducing Jordan's stories. This may indicate that the book encourages the reader to challenge existing gender stereotypes as outlined in the novel. In fact, the narratives that take place in the modern world are introduced by sliced bananas and pineapples, which may represent the increasing rejection of the stereotypes in modern society.