Womens Role :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

A housewife and mother are words that describe the typical woman in the 1950's. The mother and wife was seen to have a very specific set of responsibilities to fulfill. Those roles and responsibilities have drastically changed since then. An excerpt, from a 1950 home economics textbook, was founded on "How to Be a Good Wife." It gave nine suggestions to women on how she could please her husband. Before her husband came home from work, she was expected to have dinner ready and on the table. She was also anticipated to prepare herself by putting make up on, doing her hair, anything that could make her look refreshed upon his arrival ("The Good Wife"1). Not only was she to pamper herself, but she was supposed to coddle her children, whether it be giving him/her a bath or changing his/her clothes. Since she was a housewife, she was to insure the house was spotless. The noise level was to be minimized. This did not only mean for the children to be quiet, but rather all noise from the washer, dryer, dishwasher, and vacuum were to be eliminated ("The Good Wife"1). The woman was to remember that her husband just spent a long, hard day at work. If he wasn't present, she would have no source of income and therefore would be at a state of financial ruin. Therefore, she was to avoid bothering him with problems or complaints. Her duty was to listen to him ("The Good Wife" 2). She was to guarantee that the evening would be peaceful, relaxing, and catered towards him. The main goal for the woman was to make the house a place of serenity and order where her husband could renew himself in body and in spirit. Women's roles were confined to a small list of responsibilities. As a result, they were seen as a minority. Society convinced women that they weren't capable of performing any work outside of the home. They were to stay home to cook, clean, take care of the children, and any other aspect involving the home. This was their sole responsibility. There wasn't anything else they were allowed or expected to do. Unfortunately this frame of mind developed in women and until only recently has this mindset been challenged by the female gender.