Social Pressures on Women

In society, women are seen as taking care of the children and being in charge of the house chores such as cooking and cleaning. The author says, "...this is how you sweep a whole house; this is how you sweep a yard..." (line 18, Kincaid). Women today are seen as fragile and weak and can't make a difference in the world. They are expected to smile and act polite to everyone they meet. The author states,” …this is how you smile to someone you don’t like all…” (lines 19-20, Kincaid). Women are also seen as the ones who take care of their husbands and do their laundry. The author says, “…this is how you iron your father’s khaki shirt so that it doesn’t a crease…” (lines 14, Kincaid).

Men have social pressures such as going to work and making money to support their family. They are seen as strong and smarter than women as they do better on standardized testing. In addition, the job for men back in the 1900’s was working at a factory. The author says,” …after all you are going to be kind of woman who the baker won’t let near the bread?” (line 36, Kincaid). In today’s society, men and women have more opportunities such as being a lawyer and a doctor and going to college. Women back then didn’t have the opportunity to go to school as they were expected to do house chores and be trained to be the woman of the house.

In modern society, women are fighting for their rights such as the recent March on Washington. They protested Trump’s presidency by going on the streets and holding up signs to show that their voices will not be silenced. The marches took place in major cities like Washington D.C and Los Angeles. Women want to rise up above social standards and voice their opinions. Also, women want to be seen as equal as men by getting equal pay and involved in political decisions. Men suppress women by telling them what they can and cannot do and don’t have a voice on political manners. Women have risen up such as being elected for Congress and educated. Also, they have changed the way people see the world as they get in the armed forces, become doctors, and involved in helping people around the world.