Thank God for washing machines!
Thursday, March 12, 2009
By Megan Sweas
Comments (12)
L’Osservatore Romano celebrated International Women’s Day in March by publishing an article that declared the washing machine the most liberating advancement of the 20th century for women.
"The debate is heated. Some say the pill, some say abortion rights, and some the right to work outside the home. Some, however, dare to go further: the washing machine," the article read, according to Reuters.
Don’t forget those remarkable tools the dishwasher and the vacuum! Where would women be without these? Men: Be careful not to go near such things. These are tools of torture and confinement for you.
It’s not like men bought the wives washing machines and said, “Look, honey, now you’ll have all kinds of free time and you can do whatever you want with it.” Good feminist husbands!
No, women got access to birth control and realized that now they weren’t confined to being a mother—they can do whatever they want to do, even work! For better or worse, birth control is a more significant advancement for women and society. (Also, less babies means less laundry!)
But seriously, even if you think the washing machine is an underappreciated household appliance, does it do anything for society to posit that it’s the most liberating invention of the past century?
My feminism says no. Today the struggle seems to be that women, whether they want to or not, have no choice but to work to support their families. On top of work, they still do most of the household chores and childrearing.
It doesn’t help when an article in the Vatican newspaper says that the washing machine is essentially a woman’s tool.
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It's a wash...
By MLH (not verified) on Saturday, March 21, 2009I wanted to first high-five the idea of shining such a spotlight on the lowly washing machine. If I were to pick an invention that liberated women I guess my first thought would be contraception. And yet, as a granddaughter of two farmwomen who saw the precursor to today's models, as a child, when I visited on weekends -- the wringer, the two or three tubs used -- I have to say that mentioning the Maytag was a delightful surprise. And perceptive. (Could it be that they know more about washing clothes at the Vatican than one would suspect?) For as my grandmothers could tell you, one of the most difficult things about having children, by far, was ALL THE LAUNDRY produced. Especially when cloth diapers were used. Doing laundry, pre-wringer washer, was a WHOLE-DAY event that involved everyone BUT the dad (somebody had to bring home some bacon, after all) -- a mother and ALL children old enough to lug a bucket of scalding water from the stove.
Listen, I do understand the feminist outcry. But we feminists have got to also laud the small victories even if they're not perfect victories. I'm a Christian feminist with a limping-along washer/dryer set. My husband has been doing his own laundry, ironing and all, in the nearly 20 years we've been married. What truly liberated me, however, was getting our kids to finally take responsibility for their dirty duds when they were 10. Beforehand, their clothes were my responsibility (and the dishes my husband's) -- not because I was the woman of the house but because I did think to check their pockets, refused to create dingy whites by mixing colors, and tried to pull things straight from the dryer instead of letting them wear a wrinkly mess.
Of course...I do have mixed feelings about altar linens. My grandmas were always on the Altar Sodality and laundered/starched/ironed everything to snowy-white perfection. "Doing your own" laundry should maybe extend here as well? Tho in today's parishes, too many lone-ranger parish priests are already doing the work of three men instead of one.
Misconstrued?
By Kevin Clarke on Friday, March 20, 2009I find myself wondering if this whole crazy controversy spinning (sorry) around this article is one ginormous waste of e-breath. I can't find the original article online and not sure I could parse the Italian if I could, but doesn't it sound kind of tongue-in-cheek? Is it possible that the writer was trying to have a little, what's the word . . . "fun"? Well, I guess someday it will all come out in the . . . alright, I'm not gonna say it.
I'm offended
By Jerry (not verified) on Friday, March 20, 2009The Reuters Article prepared feminists to be offended. Feminists posting here were offended. You must be a misogynist. jk :)
It shouldn't be surprising many were offended given the indoctrination of the university. The show below provides, among other things, a typical example of feminist indoctrination at the university.
Most Liberating Advancement for Women: Human Rights & Equality
By Victoria (not verified) on Wednesday, March 18, 2009I am not a catholic but I was seriously offended by the statement that the Vatican had published.
This isn't an issue of the washing machine being a tool for women, it's the lack of respect that the Vatican makes to the millions of women who livei n poverty who cannot afford such luxuries.
The washing machine doesn't even come close to be the "most liberating" advancement. Shouldn't human rights and equal rights for women be awarded this honour? Or are we, as a civilization, regressing back to a period of time where women are not considered equal to men or even considered a person?
I also notice that promoting the washing machine as a female tool is a sexist comment. The Vatican seems to be suggesting that women are best to stay at home. Let's all regress to the early 1900's and be the 'perfect' wife.
I don't think so.
Another offended person
By Jerry (not verified) on Thursday, March 19, 2009Why do people have to be offended by an opinion? The comment above is made by an intelligent person who is apparently living in the liberal bubble.
Let's pretend history began before 1968. The death rate was so high until the 20th century that women needed to be pregnant if humanity was to survive. Children and adults dropped like flies from diseases. As bad as the murderous evils as Nazism and Communism were in the 20th Century, civilization has advanced from the days of old when barbarians coming into a village to murder, rape and pillage were more common.
All other things being held equal, if a civilization declared "equal rights for women" and had women teaching womyn's studies courses and only having 1.5 children before the 20th century, that civilization would have been dust in short order.
Women needed to be pregnant and to tend to children with their breasts if civilization was to survive. Washing clothes was a more doable task for pregnant women then going out as hunters or digging ditches when seven months pregnant or suffering from morning sickness.
Technological advances did have a huge part in women's liberation. Cultures do not change overnight. so it seems somewhat narcissistic and sanctimonious to declare as technology rapidly advanced that any lag in the change of roles essential for survival for millennia is a product of horrific sexism. Washing clothes was a woman's task: thank God today it doesn't have to be
.It's ironic that "liberation" has gone to the point of bringing Western Civilization to the brink of destruction in only 40 years with the demographic implosion of Europe even as we become relatively immune to the scourge of disease and live in a relatively peaceful time. So the liberal culture of today that tells young women they are failures if they get an "MRS degree" after college rather than being career focused may be less advanced than that of the Neanderthals. (See my links on the demographic implosion in another post.)
It's great that technological advances have made it more practical for women to contribute their talents in a wider array. For example, Great Britain and the world is a better place for having Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister. However, there is something to be said about the dignity of traditional roles. We can have both.
Our opinions may differ, but we need to stop behaving like spoiled children in the liberal academia bubble. Let's not make ridiculous accusations that someone saying the washing machine was an essential liberating force also may believe women are less than persons. Let's stop stifling discourse by being "offended" and declaring opinions different than our own off limits.
Thank God for Washing Machines
By Margaret Sents (not verified) on Thursday, March 12, 2009So young and so wise. Ms. Sweas is spot on. I am a mother and grandmother and have lived the ascent of the washing mechine. Once husbands take the change out of their pockets before dropping off their pants for laundering, we will truly be free.
I'm sorry your marriage is apparently so bad
By Jerry (not verified) on Friday, March 13, 2009Please don't project your dissatisfaction on all husbands.
Snarky, snarky
By Bryan Cones on Friday, March 13, 2009Come on, Jerry, get a sense of humor! No need to be so dour (or rude!).
As a liberated man who has been doing his own laundry since the sixth grade (on the orders of his grandmother), I have to say I def appreciate whomever invented the washing machine. I just wish someone would invent an ironing machine.
And I daresay that whoever wrote the piece in the Vatican newspaper probably has never done his own wash before.
Megan is absolutely, positively right on this one, as usual, I might add.
Bryan Cones
women, men, the church and washing machines
By Shar (not verified) on Thursday, March 12, 2009Wow! The Vatican is doing it again! Maybe the Catholic Church needs to change out its communication team!
Lucky me - and my husband, my son, my daughter-in-law, and my daughter! I grew up in the days of ringer washers (as seen in the photo) and clothes lines. I do appreciate today's washer (and dryer). However, that hardly addresses my life as a woman. It limits the collective experiences of women as well as men.
The washing machine is gender neutral and to identify it as the greatest advancement for women is ludicrous and insulting. It is no more of a great advancement for women than the chain saw is for men. I daresay, the chain saw is probably thought of more as a man's tool than it is a woman's. However, I am sure it has lightened many days of felling trees, whether by Paul or Paula Bunyan!
My vote is for the Nineteenth Amendment to the US constitution - at least for US Women whether 'US Catholics' or not! Without a doubt and with it women are given a voice to impact their lives in ways that are meaningful to them individually and collectively.
Throwing out threats of a domination by a particular Muslim sect in years to come because good Catholics didn't procreate quite enough, is ludicrous and weak, not to mention divisive. Enlightened, thinking people don't respond well to scaremongering. And, let's not bring it down to a choice between domination by a particular religious sect or men in general.
Jesus died on the cross for all of us and our sins so that we may be forgiven and have everlasting life. Or, anyway that is what I have always been taught.
Ms. Sweas, keep up the good work!
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