"In those days, when you got boxed, that was it. A lot of old people were there because somebody wanted the farm. It was about property. People are treated like property"

This quote by feminist author Kate Millett speaks to the social norms and power characteristics of the past. The phrase "when you got boxed" refers to the practice of requiring someone, typically a woman, into a marital relationship or other scenario against their will. This was seen as a way to get control over property, as women were frequently seen as possessions to be traded or inherited. The reference of "old individuals" being in these scenarios recommends that this practice was not limited to girls, however likewise impacted older people. Overall, the quote highlights the dehumanizing treatment of individuals as mere objects or residential or commercial property in the past.