In act two, of Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire, Stella and Stanley are discussing Blanche, Belle Reve, and Blanche's truck of dresses, furs, and costume jewelry. Stella, wanting to protect her sister, defends Blanche to Stanley. Stanley, on the other hand, questions Blanche's own loyalty to her sister. 

Both Stanley and Stella agree that "the Kowalskis and the DuBois have different notions." What Stanley does not agree with is Stella giving him orders (Blanche: "You come out with me while Blanche is getting dressed." Stanley: "Since when do you give me orders?"). 

Although prior to this scene Stella has obeyed Stanley, readers see a different side of her here. She stands up to her husband and tries to keep him from insulting her sister. That said, Stella is not completely successful at controlling Stanley. Although she tries, she never will be able to exert her womanly power over him. Stanley is far too much af a "man's man." Therefore, this scene illustrates that Stella loves her husband enough to not care about the differences between them and allows him to go after her sister (verbally).