Hauptman's thesis is that the Rabbis of the Talmud sought to improve the legal status of Jewish women beyond what Biblical law originally accorded women. In support of her thesis, Hauptman shows the evolution of legal theory and practice pertaining to women through the Talmudic period.
The book is gracefully written and carefully argued. It is riveting reading for anyone interested in Jewish Women's Studies.
In large part, Hauptman succeeds in her project. The discussions of Sotah (the test for unfaithful wives), marriage, divorce, rape and inheritance are particular successful in demonstrating a gradual change in favor of women. In other chapters, where Hauptman is trying to explain or justify rabbinic attitudes in themselves (without the comparison to Torah), she is less successful. For example, Hauptman argues that the rabbinic laws restricting women's ability to provide testimony in court and limiting their participation in religious rituals are *not* based on a misogynist view of women as defective, stupid, or untrustworthy. Instead, she argues that these rules are based on women's lower social status. "You can't testify against a man, even though you're likely to be honest, because you're socially inferior" does not seem to me like much of an improvement over "you can't testify because women are stupid, flighty and likely to lie." I found these chapters interesting, but ultimately unpersuasive.
Hauptman writes clearly and does a good job of providing context for non-scholars. The early chapters are easier to follow and therefore provide a good introduction if you are not a Talmudic scholar. Although not an easy read, I would say this is book is accessible to anyone who is willing to take the time to follow Hauptman's arguments and think them through.