Emma nodded, grateful she didn't need to go into further detail. Belle would learn soon enough, she supposed. And she could make her own mind up. But for her faults, for falling for the man she had, Emma hadn't once turned her back on those who'd supported her and helped her. She knew plenty filtered against her, but they had no reason to, as she hadn't ever gone to Jim with the things she'd been able to read. And she would, unless absolutely forced, work in favor of both sides. She wouldn't support the things he did, but he knew that. And she worked hard for the side of good, between her career and helping in the city when possible. At that moment, no one had any reason to fear her specifically. All she could do was hope Belle would know that by the time suspicions arose.
"People are more tolerant now. Women can have careers, they can have children without needing a spouse, and they're more than welcome at universities and often teach there. There's hardly a single thing men can do that women can't." Look at her own profession, for one! "There are some changes you may find shocking if you aren't prepared and open. Men and women living together before marriage, people having children with people they've only just met...or never met." Uncomfortable conversation was becoming slightly uncomfortable, but hey, best to get it out of the way. She'd never had to have the birds and the bees talk with Henry, so really, this was child's play. Better for Belle to be prepared, right?
"You can be anything you want here, you know. There are people who will help you get settled. You could go to school, you could start working. Fall in love or fight in battle. It's all your choice, now."
That? That was something she was happy to give the young french girl. A chance to be herself. Something far more than she'd have gotten in the sixteen hundreds, or wherever sh was from. From what she remembered of Belle's story, this was a woman who didn't want to fit into her old conventions. Now? Now she didn't have to.