The narrative begins just before the arrival of the Taliban, allowing for a contrast between two systems of government. Once the Taliban take over, the women rapidly begin to see their civil liberties curtailed. The juxtaposition is clear, so much so that many of the women do not even own the type of veil that they now need to wear. The oppression of women is linked to the Taliban’s role as the antagonists: It is women who live in fear from the regime, women who are beaten in the street for minor indiscretions, and women who find themselves taking great risks in order to feed their families.

While the book takes a dim view of the Taliban, there are clear distinctions made between the Taliban’s oppression of women and the role of women within the faith of Islam. At numerous points in the book, it is stated that it is the Taliban's niche and punitive interpretation of the Qur’an that informs their implementation of sharia law. This criticism is not extended to all of Islam. Indeed, almost every character in the text is a Muslim: Accordingly, Muslim women are the greatest victims of the Taliban’s oppressive regime.