Melissa Hinton

Eng 2003
1001 Nights Discussion
I interviewed two people. The first person was my friend Sandis husband, Russell. He was
born in 1966. Russell said that the male and female roles in the household were quite
distinguishable. The man got up and went to work each morning while the woman was at home
and took care of the kids and the household. They disciplined the children but the husband was
the final say such as "just wait till your father gets home". Women were expected to be well
kept and put together at all times in public. You might disagree with something your husband
said but you weren't supposed to voice it because he is the head of the household, the
breadwinner. Sons were taught to expect these same things out of their wives when they
married, for them to have a job to support a family so the wife could be at home where she was
needed. It was expected that the woman be submissive in the relationship. I don't believe there
was fair equality among the sexes, at least not in the South, but things were beginning to
change as more women were having to work outside the home. Russell commented that he
didnt agree with the submissiveness that women were pressured into feeling towards their
male counterparts.
I also interviewed my step-father, Larry. He was born in 1951. He said when he was growing up
women had the role of raising the children and completing household chores. The male of the
house was meant to do yard work, have a good job, take care of the family and be
disciplinarian. In public women were to present themselves as ladies and act like adults. They
were meant to dress decently and modestly. He said that his mother always did as his father
asked and was very submissive towards him.
I find it really interesting that despite the 15 year difference between the two interviewees, the
roles of men and women were still much the same during those time periods. I believe that in
this day and age our roles have reversed quite a bit. We see more women in power positions
that they would not have been able to have held back 50-60 years ago. More and more fathers
are willing to stay home with the children and attend to their needs, while the women are the
main source of income. The Womens Liberation Movement of the 1960s did a lot to show
women that they are great contenders and that they can aspire to do more with their lives.
That does not mean that women have completely lost some of the stereotypes of the 1950s.
A few weeks ago my boyfriend, Jeremy, and I moved some of our furniture into storage. And he
drove me crazy by thinking I was some delicate flower that could not lift the heavier furniture.
In some way I suppose men are designed to believe that women are weaker sex. He has told
me a few times, you are the brains I am the brawn. Its not that I mind being the brains or
working that damsel in distress role, but I dont think he realized how offensive it is when I
feel like I am viewed as a weak person. Maybe it was just the way my mother brought me up,

maybe it is media, maybe it was because I grew up with 3 older brothers that causes me to be
offended. Whatever it was, I definitely dont like being viewed as physically or mentally weak.