The book is a critique of the traditional gender roles and the patriarchal system that permeated society at the time, arguing that women were oppressed and deprived of opportunities and autonomy due to the constraints of their gender. Gilman analyzes the ways in which this androcentric culture affects women's mental, physical, and social well-being, and suggests ways in which society could be restructured to provide women with greater freedom and agency. The book remains an important feminist work and a powerful critique of the gender norms that continue to shape society today.