A WoMAN's role

Many of the pieces we've read are about a woman's struggle between conforming to society and being independent. Freeman's piece "Two Friends"depicts Abby who completely breaks out of the stereotypical role that women were supposed to play. "Abby did the rough work, the man's work of the establishment" she "rose first in the morning  and made the fire, and she pumped the water and brought the tubs for washing"  she even carried "the purse" (412). Sarah  "with her little slim, nervous frame " did "the woman's work" (412).   I think the unusualness of their relationship in this time period can lead us question their roles even further. It is interesting that Sarah unlike many of the other females we have read about seems to embrace the feminine role. Why is she ok with conforming to the role of the woman? Does she embrace this female role of care taker to Abby because she feels so endebted to her? After all Abby has always taken care of her? Also why was it ok for Abby  to take on the role of the man? Was it because there was no man in the picture? Is that the only time its deemed acceptable?