What did Oakley (1974) say about the housewife's role?

• A. A hard routine and unrewarding
• B. The idea of symmetry is over exaggerated
• C. The housewife role has become a dominant one for many married women
• D. All of the above

Answer: (D)

Oakley’s view focuses on how domestic work under patriarchy shapes women’s lives. She portrays housework as a demanding, repetitive routine that is often unrewarding and undervalued, yet central to the functioning of the family. This highlights how the daily toil of running a home can trap women into a limited, unpaid role, with little public recognition.

She also questions the idea that domestic labor is shared equally between partners. The notion of a truly symmetrical arrangement is overstated, because even when men contribute, the bulk of routine household tasks continue to fall to women, and the “mutual” support often hides an unequal burden.

Finally, Oakley stresses that for many married women the housewife role becomes a dominant, defining part of their lives—shaping daily routines, identity, and opportunities in ways that sustain gender inequality. Seeing all these points together explains why the option that combines them best captures Oakley’s position.