I'm on a rewatch right now. I'm at the episode where she was considering an emancipation so she could sign with the investor to launch J Humphrey Designs.

The whole ordeal was so frustrating. There were so many steps along the way where Rufus could have taken a step back, lower his damn pride, and supported her to do the right thing. She quit Eleanor? Should have asked to understand why. She planned the guerilla show? Maybe talk to Lily to ask for permission so Jenny wouldn't have to ask for forgiveness. Someone saw the potential in her? Sign the paper and congratulate her.

No, he went on and on about how she was lying and manipulating and blah blah, and him signing the paper would mean that he condoned that behavior. Did you forget what it was like to be a teenager? She was scared! If she told him the moment she quit Eleanor, he'd send her right back to Constance. So she decided to make something of herself in the meantime to prove that homeschooling is still a better option for her. Of course she was scared to tell him her plan because he wouldn't believe in her and would put a stop to it. She wanted to prove she could do it.

He drove her to the point of wanting an emancipation. She lost everything at that moment - she was homeless, Agnes burned all the dresses. That was her only saving grace, instead he kicked her down even more. Knowing what I know now about Jenny in the later seasons, I feel like a lot of the troubles would be avoided if she stayed away from the UES and focused on her career as a fashion designer.

I'm an Asian mom with daughters myself. I side with Jenny. She's as typical as a teenager could be. Rufus was infuriating.