I really enjoyed doing this week’s readings. They were both speaking about different topics but all tied back to Liberated Woman and Woman Liberation. The reason in which I enjoyed the article called The Politics of Housework is because of the way it was structured. I like how the writer made it so you would have what the man would say followed by what it could actually really mean. ” “We have different standards, and why should I have to work to your standards? That’s unfair.” MEANING: If I begin to get bugged by the dirt and crap I will say, “This place sure is a sty” or “How can anyone live like this?” and wait for your reaction. I know that all women have a sore called “Guilt over a messy house” or “Household work is ultimately my responsibility.” I know that men have caused that sore-if anyone visits and the place is a sty–they’re not going to leave and say, “He sure is a lousy housekeeper.” You’ll take the rap in any case. I can outwait you. ALSO MEANING: I can provoke innumerable scenes over the housework
issue. Eventually doing all the housework yourself will be less painful to you than
trying to get me to do half. Or I’ll suggest we get a maid. She will do my share of
the work. You will do yours. It’s women’s work”(Pg3). These few lines made me realize how although so much time has passed by, to this day there are women who are told that housework is only their job. That a man simply can’t do the housework around and if a man can’t do it then they’ll just hire a woman to do it for them. It makes me think about how some boys are still being taught that their role is much different from a girls role and there are things that are ‘meant’ to be done by females and things that are ‘meant’ to be done by males. However, housework isn’t simply a females thing to do. On the contrary, housework is for both men and women because it all comes down to cleaning and maintaining your place clean and tidy. Why should there be roles assigned to gender to clean?