James Character Analysis in This Is How It Always Is

One of the doctors at the medical practice in Seattle where Rosie works. James is pleasant, and he and his husband spend every evening at happy hour and fine dining restaurants. When Howie grows angry after Rosie takes time off to be with Poppy, James calls Rosie to warn her. One day, James tells Rosie that he was apprehensive about hiring her to work at the practice. Five kids is a lot, he says. This sexist assumption implies that Rosie can’t be a good doctor because she has to take care of her kids, even though Rosie’s husband, Penn, handles most of the childrearing. James is an example of the discrimination women face in America’s sexist society.

James Character Timeline in This Is How It Always Is

The timeline below shows where the character James appears in This Is How It Always Is. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...partners. Elizabeth is quiet and guarded, and she doesn’t tell her coworkers much about herself. James is pleasant, too, and he and his husband spend every evening at happy hour and... (full context)

Later in the breakroom, James admits to Rosie that he was apprehensive about hiring her. Five is a lot of... (full context)

...work during the three days Poppy is locked in her room. On the third day, James calls and says Rosie has to come in tomorrow. The next day, Rosie goes into... (full context)