Tension between Skeeter and Hilly is also revealed in these chapters. They've been lifelong friends, but their relationship had changed ever since Skeeter left for college. Hilly's husband has political ambitions, and Hilly sees her role as president of the Junior League as a platform for pushing her agenda to segregate the town even more. Although Elizabeth will do anything Hilly commands in order to keep favor with her powerful friend, the distance that college provided has changed Skeeter's thinking about the way people are divided in her hometown. Skeeter asks Minny if she ever wishes things could be different, which reveals to Minny that Skeeter might not be like all the rest of the white women.