Ma looked to Tom to speak, because he was a man, but Tom did not speak. She let him have the chance that was his right, and then she said, "Why, we’d be proud to have you. ‘Course I can’t say right now; Pa says all the men’ll talk tonight."
– John Steinbeck
The Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 10. Ma steps up as the true leader of the Joad family when Casy asks if he could travel west with them. The theme of gender roles is used here, as Ma gives permission to Tom to speak on Casy’s request.