This Freedom

"This Freedom" by A. S. M. Hutchinson is a story that begins with young Rosalie, who sees her world through the lens of gender roles, where men like her father and brothers are the main characters, and women are in the background. Rosalie's fascination with the men in her life shows the book's theme of what society expects from different genders. The story starts by showing Rosalie's point of view as she grows up in a home where men are thought of as strong and adventurous, while women are not. Through her eyes, we see her wonder about her father's actions and how her brothers are cared for by the women around them, showing a family life full of traditional ideas about gender. These family interactions show not only Rosalie's respect for the men but also her growing understanding of the limits placed on women, setting the stage for her to consider freedom and who she is as the book continues..