“The Housewife’s Moment of Truth”

I would hope there is a way that every woman can get something out of this piece. It is hard to have a role in society which requires you to be in every role. Women’s roles include employee, mother, wife, housekeeper, sister and friend. When the article “The Housewife’s Moment of Truth” came out, most men did not have to worry themselves with the cooking and cleaning, and everyday chores that never seem to end. It was common for them to assume that the woman of the household would take care of it. Men did not make it a point to be defined by more roles than they were expected to perform. In this patriarchal culture, it was not something that they had to worry themselves with. This was acceptable behavior for a long time. The author notices, though that things started to change for the better for women.

“We are all housewives. We would prefer to be persons. That is the part they don’t go along with,” advised O'Reilly (4). “They” are the men that she mentions in her piece. For example, doing the dishes is not beneath a woman. It is not beneath anyone for that matter. But that only stands true if men help with them, too. If both men and women cooperated with household chores that are needed to be done constantly, they would get done faster. Also, one person, usually the woman, would not be burdened with the task of doing everything.

People used to play gender roles that society gave them. Sometimes they still do. This seems to be something that keeps changing with time. In “The Housewife’s Moment of Truth”, O’Reilly writes, “I have never met a woman who did not feel guilty” (5). Women have been so entwined in their gender roles that they have been taught, that they feel a pang of guilt when not performing their roles to others’ standards. The author pleads with her audience to “not feel guilty” (5) for steering away from the gender-related tasks that they have felt they are required to do. O’Reilly wants to make women more aware of this, and I believe she makes a point in doing so.

It is hard to read this piece and, as a woman, not have strong feelings about the subject matter. In some ways, women are encouraged to take orders because they are following their stereotype. To be stuck in a stereotypical role of a women seems like such a negative thing. Although being a woman is wonderful and unique, it is hard as well. Women have to work twice as hard as men in a lot of aspects of life. We even have to prove ourselves to other women. It is not just males that are hard on women. Females are hard on other females as well. Women impede the career development of other women. Women judge each other harshly. But sometimes it is in a good way. For example, when we call each other out on our automatic way of thinking. “‘You became a housewife’, ” the author and a group of women exclaim in the beginning of the article (1). The woman they are speaking to has compared herself to a snake who at one moment “ ‘no one paid any attention to’ ” (1). She does not discover it for herself but is encouraged of this finding by the other women that she is talking to. They are happy to make her aware of her thoughts, and that “the natural order of things” can be changed. The author does not want society to stay in the same thought pattern that it has been in. She calls for change, and with that, wishes to make women - and men - aware that a transition is taking place. Women like herself will no longer deal with the way things are and have been. It is time for a different thoughts and attitudes towards women.

The example with the male guest saying the word “broad” shows discrimination. A woman, the hostess, rightfully corrects him that he should be saying “woman” (3). “Broad” is a discriminating word, as it degrades women. Although it is not common to hear that word in these times, it is not unusual to hear some other degrading words. For example, women in powerful positions are sometimes called a “bitch” when they are too demanding. However, men in a similar situation would be called “stern”. This is unfair and the way it discriminates women affects how they are perceived, and it alters how seriously they are taken. When trying to communicate in professional and other situations, this would affect women negatively.

Speaking of the professional life, androcentrism was shown as commonplace. After work, women who are professionals were, and still might be, expected to perform their “womanly duties”. In one scenario, O'Reilly presents Jonathan and Joanne who are “both doctors”, and “they have identical office hours” (3). Jonathan has a habit of leaving his clothes laying around, and later asking Joanne where they are. It is androcentric of him to think that just because Joanne is the female in the household, she should take care of cleaning up after him. Women like Joanne are more aware now, though, that they do not have to follow society’s rules. They can change their thoughts and actions, and live life differently.

In “Everywhere and Nowhere: Contemporary Feminism in the United States”, Jo Reger discusses the “click” moment. This is the moment when a woman realizes that she is becoming a feminist. She wrote that “the idea of the click was so widespread, that Ms. regularly published letters of click moments” (55). These moments happen in the article when O’Reilly mentions a woman coming to the realization that she is more than just her “role”. She has a right to say no, to tell a man to take care of things on his own. She argues that women are not just here to cook, clean and look after a home. Women play just as important of a role in society as men do. They are just as smart, talented and capable of more than just being a “housewife”. They are capable of everything men do and more.

Works Cited

Reger, Jo. "Surfacing in Particular Waters." Everywhere and nowhere: contemporary feminism in the United States. New York: Oxford University Press, 2012. 55. Print.

Shaw, Susan M., and Janet Lee. Women's voices, feminist visions : classic and contemporary readings. 5th ed. New York City, NY: McGraw-Hill Education, 2011. Print.