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. Susan Lynn Peterson
About This Quote

The conversation here is about the differences between the way things were and the modern day. Here, feminism was not as prevalent as it is today. Women had less time to do daily tasks and more time to do other things. If a woman was asked to do the chores of her husband, she would revolt and claim she was not anyone's slave.

Most people would view it as a man's duty to take care of their home and family, but the women knew how to take care of themselves as well as their house. The woman states that it wasn't as easy as it sounds now. There were no blenders or dishwashers, etc., so there was more work for women than just cleaning and cooking.

The woman also stated that if her husband got sick, he wouldn't be able to go out and earn money for medicine because he wouldn't have any help. This is the opposite way that men are taken care of today.

Source: Clare

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