This collection investigates the universal and specific challenges faced by women across diverse global cultures during the mid-20th century. Edited by Ruby Rohrlich and drawing from the 1973 International Congress of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences, the text compiles research from scholars examining the intersection of gender, social structure, and economic change. The contributors utilize ethnographic data to argue that women's roles are not static but are actively negotiated within shifting political and cultural frameworks.

Scholars and anthropologists frequently cite this volume as a significant archival record of early feminist anthropological discourse. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which reflects the formal presentation style of the 1973 congress proceedings.