This book investigates the psychological roots of dependency in women, questioning why many otherwise capable individuals harbor a subconscious desire to be rescued or cared for by others. Colette Dowling, a journalist and author, synthesizes psychological research and personal interviews to argue that societal conditioning creates a 'Cinderella Complex'—a fear of independence that prevents women from achieving full autonomy. She examines how early childhood development and cultural expectations reinforce this reliance, ultimately proposing that women must actively reeducate themselves to break these ingrained patterns of behavior.

The work is regarded as a significant, if controversial, contribution to the discourse on gender roles and psychological autonomy during the early 1980s. Its framing suggests a provocative, accessible exploration of internal barriers that continues to be cited in discussions regarding the evolution of female independence.