Many critics believe this is when Kate became rebellious of the way women were treated. But her first account of rebellion came in 1860 when the union flag was placed on her home. She became known as "the little rebel" when she tore the flag down. Her age and a neighbor prevented her from being arrested. So her rebellious acts did not start as a young lady. It was years of female influences and the fact that there was no male influence in her life over a long period of time. Some of her strength may in fact have come from the endurance of so many tragedies. Many critics believe that a combination of these things is when her roots in feminism began to show.

             Not really accepting the fact that women had social limitations, Kate was relluctant to do what was expected of her to find a husband. In 1870, at the age 19, Kate married the son of an established Creole family. Oscar Chopin, six years Kate senior, met her when he moved to St. Louis to look for work. He became a young cotton broker, and also handled sales, finances, and supplies for the plantation owners.

             Oscar was not the typical husband. He allowed Kate a lot of freedom. Even with the freedom Kate felt she was trapped into doing what was expected of a woman.

             Kate and her husband had settled in New Orleans for nine years. During this period of time six children were born: Jean, Oscar, George, Frederick, Felix and Leila. Oscar, job as cotton commissioner had started having problems. In 1880 when the business failed, the family moved to Cloutierville, Louisiana. There, Oscar opened a general store and continued to over see plantations. Here in Cloutierville Kate was able to meet a variety of people by helping her husband at the general store. Kate later uses her experiences with the French, Negro, Spanish, and English culture to write about. She gained the reputation of being a regional writer from this experience.

             Oscar never fully adjusted to the new location.