Content Warning: This novel discusses eugenics, forced institutionalization, racism, and child sexual abuse. It also uses outdated terminology for discussing mental health and disabilities, which is reproduced in quotation in this guide.

“Today, the feebleminded are categorized into three distinct groups based on tests that calibrate intelligence. IQ tests. The average person has an IQ of one hundred. People who score between seventy and one hundred have a lower mentality but are still, more or less, normal. Those who score between fifty and seventy are classified as morons—they look quite normal, though they have the minds of children between the ages of eight to twelve years. Most of our girls at Nettleton are in this category. They were sent to us because they’ve exhibited morally delinquent behavior.”

Leary uses Dr. Vogel to provide exposition for how girls and women were categorized with intelligence tests at the turn of the 20th century. This description is treated as scientific and speaks to the dangers that scientific discourse can pose to marginalized populations when they do not have a voice at the table.

“Many letters were from relatives of mentally defective girls from all over Pennsylvania, begging to have them admitted. These queries tended to come from men—husbands and uncles of mentally defective girls.”

Mary reflects on the letters that she is typing for Miss Hartley. Leary uses these letters to comment on the injustice that the girls face and highlight the unfairness of men being in total control of their fates. Additionally, this passage shows how easy it is for Mary to normalize these injustices through the label of “mentally defective,” highlighting the dangers of eugenicist rhetoric.

“Yes, there’s that too, but the lesson I meant is to never wander into a field of cows unless you know where the bull is keeping himself.”

Animals symbolize the dangers of men and patriarchy in the novel. Sister Rosemary tells the orphan girls an allegory about bulls killing for sport to help them understand that sometimes, men will take advantage of marginalized people, especially girls, because they can.