Becoming Untamed

The book’s central argument and point of analysis is that for the most part, women are put in different sorts of psychological, emotional, and spiritual cages that define their behavior – in other words, that they are “tamed” by the expectations of others, and have the right and responsibility to make themselves “untamed.” At certain points, the author extends her argument and analysis into the experiences of boys and men, but the vast majority of the book is focused particularly on the experiences of women. Most particularly, it focuses on the experiences of the author herself, who uses those experiences as a springboard into broader contemplations.

It is important to note that none of the cages the author references are actual, physical constructions. Instead, she defines societal, parental, religious, and marital expectations as aspects of a woman’s life that keep her behind the metaphorical bars of...