The book is based on a certain tradition in Afghanistan where young girls are temporarily raised as boys. Afghanistan is a patriarchal society where men are celebrated and women disdained. Women's freedoms are curtailed by culture and traditions. Nordberg interrogates several women who have practiced the tradition of bacha posh. The first person interviewed is Azita. Azita is a parliamentarian who practiced the tradition of bacha posh. Besides, her daughter, Mehran, is practicing the same tradition. Azita argues that she has four daughters. To be given respect as a woman and leader, she needs a son.
Bacha posh is a custom that gives young girls confidence and self-esteem. Young girls exercising this tradition are not limited to interacting with boys as their counterparts who don’t practice bacha posh. This practice makes some of the girls to be defiant of dressing like girls when they reach adolescence. For instance, Nordberg meets with a young girl called Zahra who has resisted her parents’ advice to dress like a girl. Zahra continues dressing like a boy and training taekwondo.
Culture, religion, and history are contributing factors towards the practice of bacha posh. People believe that the practice of bacha posh can increase the chances of siring sons in families. Traditionally, some cultures believed that disguising young girls as boys makes gods think that they need male children. Beliefs have made Afghan families to continue with such practices in order to get sons.
