Other Things Being Equal

"Other Things Being Equal" by Emma Wolf is a story that takes place in the late 1800s, focusing on family relationships, what society expects, and finding yourself. The main character is Ruth Levice, a young Jewish woman who has to manage her connection with her parents and friends. She also faces her mother's declining health combined with her father's struggle to balance family and societal pressures. The novel starts with Ruth talking to her cousin Jennie about their mother's health. The beginning shows family and social relationships, showing Ruth's responsibility towards her mother and different views between Ruth and Jennie when it comes to Jewish and Christian social interactions in San Francisco. The beginning chapters shows how Ruth grows as she deals with her mother's sickness, her fathers need to protect her, and her own need to be independent and make her own decisions in society.