Despite Neni’s increasing independence, Fatou reminds her of how the expectations for a Cameroonian wife are somewhat incompatible with the things that she now believes she should be able to do, like meet with whomever she pleases without first receiving permission from her husband. Fatou’s story about her cousin reminds Neni about the abusive control that men from their country can sometimes hold over their wives to remind them that life in a new country doesn’t free them from oppressive customs.