Answer: Women are commonly underestimated by those within society.
The excerpt implies that Regina wanted to participate in the business, but her brothers did not believe she was capable of it. While Ben and Horace seem to agree with her intentions, Oscar seems resentful. This excerpt reinforces a common idea in feminist literature, which is that women are often underestimated by society. This is particularly true in areas that have been traditionally dominated by men, such as business.
