Slavenka is an ardent anti-communist. She believes that communism has destroyed not only the material well-being of Eastern Europe but its soul as well. Communism led the peoples of Eastern Europe to despair, uniform poverty and an inability to believe that life could be better than it was at present. As a feminist and a social democrat, Slavenka has a strong sense of social justice that pervades the book. Women are horrifically treated in Eastern Europe, even after the fall of communism. Forced prostitution, rape and pornography are rampant and the feminist community in Eastern Europe could practically fit into a single room.