This work investigates the sociological and psychological factors that led many women in the 1980s to retreat from the pursuit of professional and social equality. Wendy Kaminer, a lawyer and social critic, examines the tension between the desire for autonomy and the anxieties surrounding the double burden of career and domestic responsibilities. She argues that a resurgence of traditionalism and a fear of competitive parity caused a significant portion of the feminist movement to stall during this decade.

Critics often cite this book as a provocative examination of the internal contradictions within the feminist movement during the late twentieth century. Scholars frequently note the author's sharp, analytical prose and her willingness to challenge prevailing narratives about women's progress.