The book is a firsthand account and detail of the events that took place in the life of author herself. It stretches back to the days when she was faced with the issue of containment in Toronto Interval house. She along with her mother had to live there. The story gives an account of the events that unfolded in the mid 1970s, exactly in 1974. The overall dismal outlook of the social institutions and the lack of awareness and attention being given to the women’s problems that are faced by them, along with the various other associated disturbances have been addressed in this book. The protection of the women against the physical assaults, the desire for bringing about more enacted reforms and established norms is desired for through the writings of this book.
The feminist institutions and other protective entities have found it hard protecting the rights of the women and in turn the government and its policies have been lambasted for their lack of funds, support and other assistances that are needed by the women and these organizations in particular towards a better and progressive future of the women in the longer run.
The timings of the paper and entire work span over a period of roughly around two years between 1974 and 1976. It was the time when the American society was facing problems of different kinds. One of the major problems faced in those days was that of the women’s rights and the emancipation movements that were in offing and voices were being heard regarding the need for bringing about reforms in the social structure of the society with regard to women’s protection. The region specified and highlighted is that of Toronto Interval House. The era marked the days when the feminist movement was at peak and was asking for more demands and more rights towards the women’s representation and protection against the social evils that haunt them in the form of the lack of institutions, lack of infrastructure and overall lack of organizational outfit that may be characterized as ones that are built and working towards the women’s emancipation and protection from any kind of social injustice.
The book is not just a mere fictitious piece of work; rather it provides guidelines and awareness about the problems faced in the society where this book is written and more predominately where the Toronto Interval House is established. It gives an account of the problems in the social security and social welfare sector. The problems faced such as the lack of health care, the lack of infrastructure, the chances of vulnerability and overall exploitation of the women and many more other social issues and deviances that led to direct and indirect problems identification and highlighting in the Toronto Interval House and the adjoining society.
The overall work of the book is divided into different chapters with each part containing sufficient amount of data and knowledge that is necessary towards the protection of the women in the different sectors and organizations of social outfit and existence.
The book directs its attention of the readers towards the reforms that are needed towards the overall overhauling of the women and the associated institutions. The author also advocates the spread of the women’s emancipation in such a way that the working places would allow for a more women centric outlook. Establishing good relationship between the both genders in the working environment, providing social and financial security to the women against the men on the same posts is also an area that needs to be looked into for the purpose of overcoming the malady faced by the culture and society. It is more about changing the mindset as well.
According to the author, the government has failed providing the feminist movement forerunners with security and guidance that is needed by them for the welfare and the better protection of the women on different fronts.
The book is a fresh breath of air. It gives an account of the actual problems faced. It directs the attention towards the problems that seek solution. These words and overall idea and concept for women’s emancipation comes from the mind, heart, tongue and fingers of the woman who is the direct advocate of the rights of women and believes in the feminist movements that are aimed at for providing the women with protection and a better future in the longer run. It will give the readers an insight into the overall situation the women were faced with during the days of social struggle. The book will find customers and clients in terms of those who may be oriented towards social work, social reforms and social development and emancipation of the women in the different sectors in a direct and indirect manner. It will also give the administrators and insight into the areas where there is still need for improvement and development. There are still areas across the region both in United States of America and Canada that need to be developed on the basis of social welfare and development of the organizations and institutions within. The last part of the book is dedicated to the areas such as the possible solutions, the possible alternatives and all the possible areas where the women can gain their relatively free existence from and the society may be known for a more prosperous one in longer run where the women can enjoy their freedom and protection in different manner.
Strengths and weaknesses of the book: The strength of the book is its tone and unbiased style of writing. Without the fear of the government or other influential segments within the society, the book gives an account of the actual problems that the society and institutions are faced with. Other strengths of the book include the acknowledgment of the people who have taken a stance towards the protection of the rights of the women in a direct and indirect manner. Although the government may not provide concrete measures in this regard, yet individual efforts are there that need to be undertaken towards the protection of the women in a better manner. Part of the book also provides details and guidelines regarding the areas where possible improvements can be made (Adams, 2008).
The weakness of the book is accounted for its generic and holistic approach and view regarding the government and other administrative entities that have been in place and seat of authority and may not have delivered well and to the expectations in the recent years. This stands as the potential weak link of the book. Other than that, the book has the sufficient ingredients and recipes to make it a good read for the people who would want to get an insight into the problems that were faced by the women then, the women now and the government’s approach then and now, and the possible chances and areas where improvements can be made in a direct and indirect manner.
A broader message can be deduced from the overall piece of writing. It brings the attention towards the need for reforms in the social sectors that patron over the women’s rights and seek further promotion of the feminist movements. The reference to the respect can be derived from the fact that women have been subjected to physical assaults in various forms. The feminist movement in its own as well as the advocacy of the institutions designed for such purpose would allow prevention of such episodes. The masses in general have a responsibility towards it and they need to promote, protect and advocate the spread of such institutions in a more active manner.
References:
Adams, R. (2008). Glass Houses: Saving Feminist Anti-Violence Agencies from Self-Destruction. Fernwood Publishing Company, Limited.
