In The Politics of Housework by Pat Mainardi and The Myth of The Vaginal Orgasm by Anne Koedt, both writers discuss the many expectations and assumptions that have been put on women, such as the expectations of women completing all the housework, to the assumption that female orgasms are vaginal. Although both readings discuss different topics, they are alike in many ways. In “The Politics of Housework”, Mainardi discusses the difference between a liberated woman and women’s liberation. I understand the liberated woman to live as freely and shamelessly as possible. She is not phased by the expectations, or traditions, of sex before marriage, she discards the idea of staying home with the kids while dad has his fun and has her career going for herself. 

Women’s liberation, as she explains, is the opposite. It’s about the many gender roles that were put into place giving men the opportunity to be put on a pedestal, while women were at home making sure that by the time he gets home, the house is spotless and there is dinner served on the table. Although some women were fine with the idea at first or brainwashed into thinking that this kind of marital setup was fair, their thoughts and views on the sexist behavior going on in their own home were beginning to get to them, in other words, can be understood as the “personal is political”. The liberated woman might be important for women’s liberation because it can, slowly, but surely, open doors for other women who want to be free of these gender roles, but may be too afraid or ashamed to. Simply seeing women working passionately towards a career or having sexual freedom, can ignite another woman to go and want to do the same without feeling guilt or judgment. My understanding of the liberated woman is that she’s not trying to say that she’s against men or doesn’t take their hard work into consideration, but rather she sees herself as an equal who has the same wants, desires, and isn’t afraid to let it be known.

These two pieces show that the “personal is political” because both writers express their personal feelings and attitudes in regards to what they have seen in their own homes or have experienced as women. In “The Myth of the Vaginal Orgasm”, for example, Anne discusses the false idea that men have about a woman’s orgasm. The assumption that female orgasms are vaginal is a perfect example of how men have defined something so personal to women, as theirs, for their sexual enjoyment. Mainardi also experienced similar feelings in her household where she felt the need to have a conversation with her husband about sharing the housework. Both articles inspired me to be both confident and unapologetic when asking for equality/shared housework in my own home and outside of it.