The concept of having to be nurtured and dedicated to serving your household all your life was the “pride” and heavy duly responsibility betrothed to female to engage for their whole lives. Betty Friedan in her article, “The Feminine Mystique” brings closure to the aspect during a time, thus the fifteenth century, when women had no desires except for wanting to be housewives. Or at least, they were not expected to have any other desire except for one that was seen as a “befitting role”. The article having to be in close relation with the article “The Politics of Housework”, which all advance and explore lives of women in a severe time. The sole purposes of women during the time were to cook, clean, do the laundry, make sure all needs of the kids are tended to, serve her husband and just to cater things that was needed around the house.
It was a usual thing for people to go through that routine, women equal the house whilst the men went out to work, meet partners, and do what they felt needed to do, going ahead to “prove” the matters of subordination insisting that men had a higher place in society that women. Also considering “the problem that has no name”, a confusing era after the second world war, with the animosity which indirectly implies that women have no use or are worth little to nothing. Housework is in fact a very energy draining and hard work, it needs focus, and strategic planning, however it seems like an involving activity that is degraded, and then passed onto women as a befitting work. Women do not mind doing house chores, but their dreams are not and should not be limited to that. It may have been portrayed that they were content but, in all honesty, wanted to have good careers and they what they loved instead of just sitting at home all day and attending to the needs of their families.
Anne Koedt, in her article, “The myth of Vaginal Orgasm”, she condemns some already attained beliefs regarding women and their inability to achieve orgasm. She corrects the notion between the vagina and the clitoris. The vagina is the reproductive organ, while the clitoris is the in fact the main area for sexual sensitivity. There are different senses to sexual arousal in women. It may be physical stimulation or sexual fantasies.
Great post Salima!
I like how you explained in the past women had no desire except for one that was seen as a “benefitting role”. During that time, liberation wasn’t even an idea nevertheless an option for most women. Patriarchy and gender roles were at their strongest during this time when society was still being built. There was no example of a liberated woman, leaving most women to do what was expected of them. However, women’s liberation only arose when there was opportunity for women to support themselves and gain independence. As time went on and women rallied together, realizing their potential, liberation became something more achievable.
Hi Salima!
As Aleah said above I liked your explanation of the “benefitting role”. Women allowed for many centuries of unfair treatment- unknowingly- because society engrained them to think that it was their only purpose. To serve and take care of the private life behind closed doors while men go out and do the “actual work”. Housework along with cooking and childcare is not easy at all! Thus why men refrain from having to take part in it, they know that it isn’t easy but still choose to diminish it’s importance.
Hello Salima ,
Very nice post, I know both articles we read were written in 1970, but I am sure that there are still women and families who suffer from the workhouse rules made by men. Women are already fed up with this society’s standards and rules and that’s why the generation of liberated women is growing nowadays. Women are looking for stability, freedom, and independence.
Hello Salima,
There definitely might be women who still go through to same thing today which is very sad.
hello Salima. I like your respond about “Betty Friedan in her article, “The Feminine Mystique” because by years the women’s always have the roll at home that have to clean and do everything. Its alright that men they work to bring food to the table but the women have more responsibilities at home because they have to be looking for the kids security and also to have everything clean and food on the table for the husband.