Let's also be careful about reading what someone writes and not exaggerating what was *actually* written.
As well, let's not pretend that there is no gender discrimination in North America in 2008. But is life better for women than in 1908 Canada, when LMM wrote AoGG? Absolutely.
Although we've still got some distance to go.
As for middle-aged Anne Shirley. I suspect 'off-screen' so to speak she was doing what many small-town middle -aged feisty (and Anne was that
)wives of the few professional men and successful businessmen in such towns did and often still do - she would be running the town
(informally, of course, because as a penisless being she was not eligible to run for office or even vote in that time)
c.
