Women of a Promiscuous Nature

By: Donna Everhart

Narrated by: Lisa Larsen

On a brisk February morning while walking to work, Ruth Foster is stopped by the local sheriff. He insists she accompany him to a health clinic, threatening to arrest her if she doesn't undergo testing in order to preserve decency and prevent the spread of sexual disease. Though Ruth has never shared more than a kiss with a man, by day's end she is one of dozens of women held at the State Industrial Farm Colony for Women. Some are there because they were reported for promiscuity by neighbors, husbands, strangers. Some were accused of prostitution. Others were just pretty and unmarried. Or poor and "suspicious." One was eating dinner alone in a restaurant. Another spoke to a soldier.

Josephine's sin was running a business as a single woman. Maude's was trying to drown her sorrows. Frances had lost her mind. Opal married a man with a mean streak. Some, like fifteen year old Stella, are brought in because they're victims of assault. Superintendent Dorothy Baker, convinced that she's transforming degenerate souls into upstanding members of society, oversees the women's medical treatment and "training" until they're deemed ready for parole. Everyone at the Colony learns to abide by Mrs. Baker’s rule book or face the consequences—solitary confinement, grueling work assignments, and worse. But some refuse to be cowed. Some find ways to fight back—at any cost.

©2026 Donna Everhart (P)2026 Tantor Media

Story is very interesting and made me delve deeper into the history behind the story line.

This was a very interesting read that made me even more proud of those strong women who came before me who paved the way forward. This definitely is a good book for book clubs to discuss family dynamics, submission, psychological problems and what kind of medical testing was done on humans a hundred years ago...

It was an interesting read

The reader was awful! Please find a better reader for this book. Donna Everhart’s books are good reads but this one was hard to listen to.

How women were viewed at that time

It had a slow start for me and then it picked up and got interesting

Very good book

I really like the story behind this. And the fact that it's truthful in nature and how it shows that ignorance can cause so many problems. one thing I wish the ending was resolved more. It felt rushed

The worst narrator EVER!

It was an interesting story, but the narrator’s strange robotic voice ruined it. I usually enjoy Donna Everhart’s books, but this audio was truly disappointing.