In a public library, Sophia discovers an antiquarian volume called Snakes And Ladders. Through its pages she meets nine women between the ages of 16 and 92 who talk about their personal experience of education.

The book contains animation, archival film and stills which come to life to present Sophia with the history and experience of women's education - the centuries old tradition of female healers, Aboriginal children taken from their families and institutionalised, battles to open traditionally male-dominated academic courses to women, and recent struggles to change the content of education. A non-traditional documentary that questions the truths of history.