This week we read three articles that were triggering to read but also shocking. To continue the discussion of women’s struggles, this week we were educated on the old stereotypes of what women should do in her life, meaning a housewife. We were also educated on the conversation of a woman’s orgasm. In the first reading, “The Feminine Mystique” by Betty Friedan (1963)” we read about the idea of what a woman should be. At the time women’s dream of being successful in their lives was having a husband, kids, and a household. As we know the term an American housewife. In order to be a housewife, women must have a specific duty and a certain personality. The only duty a housewife must have is kissing their husband’s goodbye, depositing their children at school, and cleaning the household (the kitchen is emphasized). Women were content with this system for a while, being the perfect wife and mother. As a housewife, the highest success to them is having a beautiful house and many children. I personally found this reading irritating because I don’t agree with this idea. However, I am aware that those were different times. The reading continues by explaining the reason women were content with being a housewife, As Betty Friedan said this is called “The feminine mystique.” Society influenced women to not think past becoming a housewife, articles, columns, and books telling women to seek fulfillment as wives and mothers. Friedan concludes by arguing we need to solve the problem of the feminine mystique. The fight is long from over, we need to use our voice, education, and work together. 

The second reading, “The Politics of Housework” by Pat Mainardi it was similar to the first reading. The duty of housewives and the lives they live as a housewife. More specifically the issue is that men see housework as a woman’s job. Pat Mainardi argues this by saying women have been conditioned into becoming a housewife while men have not. I agree with this statement based on the first reading. Society has created articles and books encouraging women to be housewives, loving mothers, and supportive wives. Today when we see commercials for cleaning supplies, houses, beauty, we see women. For example the Swiffer commercials, I remember seeing the Swiffer duster being advertised and a woman was dusting the tables, the ceiling fans, and the shelves. Have you ever seen a man dusting off furniture? Mainardi continues by stating housework should be an equal burden to wife and husband. However, Men give many excuses so he does not have to. She gives multiple sugar-coated excuses men often give which have a real deeper meaning that she emphasizes. My favorite line was, “I hate it more than you. You don’t mind it so much.” MEANING: Housework is garbage work. It’s the worst crap I’ve ever done. It’s degrading and humiliating for someone of my intelligence to do it. But for someone of your intelligence…” I love this line because I have heard it before and it makes no sense. This sugar-coated line has no logic, how do you know I don’t hate housework? To continue in order to solve the issue of this annoying mindset, Mainardi says we should start participatory democracy at home. In addition, my classmates’ snapshot, Glory Kalu Wilson shows a picture that seems to look like propaganda. In the photo, it says “Revolution begins in the sink!” This photo sends a clear message as to what Mainardi is saying. Housework should be divided for both men and women. I think in today’s generation we are more vocal about issues like this. For example, my boyfriend and I are speaking about moving in together, and I expressed an important part of what I want if we were to move in together, which is an equal amount of help getting things done around the house. He agreed completely and did not say something men would most likely say in the 1900s. 

The last reading was the most interesting to me and I was shocked at the argument. I did not know vaginal orgasm is not real. I was so shocked and confused if this was true so I continued reading and after reading her explanations it did make sense. “The Myth of the Vaginal Orgasm” by Anne Koedt gives us an argument that the sexual life of women is centered on men’s pleasure. Koedt explains that the only way women can achieve orgasm is through clitoris stimulation. She proves her argument by describing women are left unsatisfied and this is called “frigid” because the way men and women receive stimulation are different and don’t overlap. Koedt also proves her argument with anatomical evidence. As a psychology major, I find anything to do with the brain fascinating. So part 22 of the reading Koedt explains how psychological stimulation helps women achieve orgasm. I find it so fascinating that the brain and nerves take part in sexual contact. This is the first reading we have had that spoke for women’s struggles not politically or human rights, but as a women’s needs. I hope we can have more future readings like this.