Désirée's acceptance of blame for the baby's skin color illustrates the theme of
women's lack of economic independence
women deferring to men
women's responsibility for children
skin color as a barometer of status

The correct answer is "women deferring to men". In the short story "Désirée’s Baby" by Kate Chopin Désirée is the adopted daughter of a wealthy familiy in antebellum Louisiana. Désirée married by Armand and both have a black baby, as she doesn't know her ancestry Désirée assumes that she is part black. The acceptance of blame for the baby's skin color illustrate the theme of women deferring to men, specially during 1893 when the story was published.