How did the shifting social, political, and economic landscapes of North America fundamentally alter the roles and status of Native American women from the colonial era to the twentieth century? Theda Perdue, a distinguished historian specializing in Native American history, utilizes a synthesis of primary source documents, oral histories, and ethnographic records to examine the lived experiences of indigenous women. She argues that the imposition of European gender norms and colonial policies systematically dismantled traditional matrilineal structures and communal authority, forcing women to navigate a complex process of cultural adaptation and resistance.

Historians and scholars of indigenous studies frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the intersection of gender and colonialism in North America. Readers often note the clarity of the prose and the author's ability to balance broad historical trends with intimate, individual accounts.