Societal expectations for white women is a theme in each of Skeeter's chapters. She is expected to be married and to be having babies by the time she is 22 years old. Skeeter's mother considers it her duty to help her daughter, but her attempts are critical and Skeeter is a constant disappointment. Mrs. Phelan says that four years of college is more than enough for a woman. When Skeeter searches the newspaper for a job, she discovers that men are paid more for the same work. The path for white women seems just as narrowly defined as the path for black maids.