Sidonie de la Houssaye and Léona Queyrouze both led lives that defied the traditional roles reserved for the mythic "belle créole". More than simply beautiful women distracted by idle pastimes, dependent on their husbands in all respects, and blindly faithful to the established order, de la Houssaye and Queyrouze were both able to make their voices heard in the man’s world in which they lived. After the death of her husband, Sidonie de la Houssaye turned to teaching and writing to support her large family. Léona Queyrouze, who was raised in the elite and culturally rich world of wealthy New Orleans, boldly pursued her literary ambitions. She made several amorous conquests among men of letters in pursuit of her dream of being a well-known writer. Both writers were progressive and emancipated women of letters writing in a man’s world.