Great essay. I was very surprised by the language used in the cookbooks and textbooks you mentioned. From a modern standpoint, the rhetoric seems degrading, as if women’s only purpose is to cater to the needs of men. The notion that the very schools attempting to educate the next generation of leaders was also teaching girls to be subservient to men is unsettling. This forces women to be entirely dependent on the man of the house. I understand the importance of having a parent to provide care for the children, however the onus should not only be on the woman. Childcare should be shared equally. I realize during that time period attitudes about gender roles were far different than they are now. However, sexism is still prevalent in the workplace today as women are often paid less than men.
Despite the significant progress women have made just in the last century, many people still believe women should assume the “traditional” mother and housewife position. Especially in the Middle East and other lesser-developed countries, many women are still treated as subhuman, not fit for a job other than childcare and housework. In more conservative countries like Pakistan, honor killings of women are common practices and are seen as acceptable in that culture. Higher education for women at colleges and universities are even more of a rarity. I pledge (Word Count 225)
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