Here's a summary of the story:
* Mary's Difficult Situation: Mary is left destitute after her husband's death. She is forced to leave her comfortable life behind and venture into the outback, where opportunities are limited and the dangers are many. She finds work as a cook for a group of rough and tumble bushmen.
* The Patriarchal Society: Lawson paints a stark picture of the Australian outback, where men hold all the power. Mary faces constant prejudice and hardship. The bushmen treat her with disrespect, and her attempts to assert her independence are often met with resistance.
* The Struggles of Women: Mary's journey is a testament to the struggles women faced in a patriarchal society. She is forced to endure physical labor, sexual harassment, and isolation. She also encounters social stigma for being a single woman in a male-dominated world.
* Mary's Strength and Resilience: Despite the hardships she faces, Mary demonstrates remarkable strength and resilience. She is determined to survive and create a better life for herself, even in the face of overwhelming odds.
* The Themes of Love and Loss: The story explores the themes of love and loss, both in the context of Mary's relationship with her husband and her experiences in the harsh outback. It portrays the fragility of human connections and the enduring power of love in the face of adversity.
The story concludes with Mary leaving the bushmen and finding a new life, leaving the reader with a sense of hope and optimism despite the hardships she faced.
"No Place for a Woman" is considered a classic Australian short story, offering a powerful and moving depiction of the struggles of women in a patriarchal society.