Things were different back then. Today if a woman was…
““Things were different back then. Today if a woman was asked to do the things we did back then, she would revolt, declare that she wasn’t anyone’s slave, wouldn’t be put upon in that fashion. But you have to remember that this was before automatic washers and dishwashers, before blenders and electric knives. If the carpet was going to get cleaned, someone, usually a woman, would have to take a broom to it, or would have to haul it on her shoulders to the yard and beat the dirt out of it. If the wet clothes were going to get dry, someone had to hang them in the yard, take them down from the yard, heat the iron on the fire, press them, and finally fold or hang them. Food was chopped by hand, fires were stoked by hand, water was carried by hand, anything roasted, toasted, broiled, dried, beaten, pressed, packed, or pickled, was done so by hand. Our version of a laborsaving device was called a spouse. If a man had a woman by his side, he didn’t have to clean and cook for himself. If a woman had a man by her side, she didn’t have to go out, earn a living, then come home and wrestle the house to the ground in the evening.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote contrasts past domestic labor expectations with modern feminist resistance, highlighting how technology reduced physical chores and altered gender dynamics.
In simple terms: Past chores were done by women; now women resist being confined to domestic roles.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how technology and social change reshape gender expectations.
Themes
gender roles
technology
feminism
labor
history
Mood
reflective
critical
historical
Type
analytical
social commentary
When to use this quote
- Household chores
- career choices
- marriage expectations
- activism
- historical comparison
Key Concepts
Domestic labor
technological progress
social change
Questions to Reflect On
- How have modern appliances changed gender expectations?
- What responsibilities remain beyond chores?
A Different Perspective
The analogy of a spouse as a labor‑saving device oversimplifies complex emotional and economic partnerships.