A working-class mother has held only one hope for her entire life: that one day, her daughter would marry well and wealthy, and take care of her in her old age. When her daughter reveals that the man she loves is not wealthy, her mother's dreams of rest are dashed and divided.

A middle-aged woman living in the suburbs reflects on three moments in her life that have made her question her understanding of love and sexuality — meeting an expectation-defying girl in her youth, attending a bodybuilding competition with her family, and watching her hairdresser transform into a different person.

A Jewish mother wants her daughter to marry well and have a better life, but her husband doesn't seem to care. After her other daughter passes away, she realizes she should not hesitate to make bigger sacrifices.

A middle-aged American woman living abroad feels alone and out of place, so she seeks company from the local church and the Mothers' Union held there. However, as an atheist, the uptight nature of the church and its members leave the woman feeling unsettled.

A housewife in Wisconsin tries desperately to warn people about the impending doom Hitler poses as he rises to power in Europe. Simultaneously, she lives vicariously through her daughters and hopes to glean satisfaction out of their romances where she can't from her own.

A group of patriarchal intellectuals entertain themselves by exploring the politics of World War II-era United States, meanwhile controlling and abusing the women in their lives.

In 1960s America, a woman marries a selfish man who eventually accuses her of causing his mental illness and abandons her. She then begins to live her life sexually freed and embark on friendships and affairs centered around her own desires.

Because of her peculiar disposition, a young woman faces several challenges while living in her hometown in South Carolina. However, the same traits that her town sees as undesirable might just save her life when she becomes imprisoned in an enemy camp during World War II.

An elderly woman prepares for her death, but is anxious for someone to listen to her precious memories and cherish them after her death.

Jo's secret love for her coworker, sweet Catholic Lucia Mazzano, turns into a feverish obsession which crashes around her feet when Lucia finds a beau. Unable to stand the pain, Jo begins sabotaging Lucia's work in the law firm.