In Parable of the Sower, how does Butler showcase Cory as a role model for Lauren?

Octavia Butler is well-known for her feminist science fiction. As such, Parable of the Sower showcases female relationships as particularly important.

Cory is introduced as Lauren's stepmother. Although Lauren seems to have a sterile and distant relationship with Cory (Lauren and her father have a closer relationship, while Cory tends to favor the boys), it is clear that she is very influential to Lauren's growth as a character. Cory is not Lauren's real mother, and Lauren seems to remain acutely aware of this throughout the beginning of the book.

Lauren's only female role-model growing up is Cory. As a character, Cory is first and foremost, a mother. As Lauren's father's chosen partner, she takes care of Lauren and her brothers as if they were all her own. As the women of the family, Cory and Lauren have a special bond. Although Lauren does not think of Cory as her real mother, Cory's maternal love for Lauren is apparent,

I mean, we were always Cory and Lauren. She never asked me to call her 'mother', and I never thought to do it. I always knew she was my stepmother. But still... I always loved her... I was her kid, but not her kid. Not quite. Not really. But I always thought she loved me.

As Lauren's mother-figure, Cory plays an important role in shaping Lauren's identity as a strong female leader. Cory's character seems to foreshadow Lauren's later role as female leader, forced to make difficult decisions for her small clan. Cory is presented as the risk-taker of the parent team. She is often portrayed arguing with Lauren's father to move the family North, an obvious foreshadowing of Lauren's journey later on in the book,

"We could try it," Cory insisted. "We should! We wouldn't be any worse off than we are now if they turn us down. And if we didn't like it, we could come back here..."

Lauren's father protests Cory's pleadings, and the family ends up staying in their compound, ultimately, to most of the family's demise. When Lauren is left to make her own decisions, she follows Cory's advice by heading North.

In the beginning of the book, Cory is set up as a very strong role model as a mother figure, strong female leader, and decision-maker that later greatly influences Lauren's character as she takes on these traits to lead her small clan to a new beginning in the North.