Angels_in_the_House

When I first read the words “Angel in the house” I thought of a peaceful spirit that might have inspired Virginia Wolf to write. The word “angel” had a positive meaning, but as I read along, Wolf was describing a whole different angel than the type I had in mind. She was right when she stated that she should provide the definition because my generation indeed has no idea what the term means. The “angel” she illustrates represents all the “appropriate” behaviors of women that society has imposed on them The angels were women who were “intensely sympathetic, immensely charming, utterly unselfish, excelled in the arts of family life, and most importantly she was a woman who never had a mind or a wish of her own” (p.234). The angels are the traditions that society have imposed upon women through sexual norms and gender stereotypes, that put women in their place in society and that is always behind a man. Even though, I am from a different and mor open-minded generation then that of Virginia Wolf, but the same angels and more in my house. I have conquered many there but I still have a lot more to do to have a free mind and spirit. Other women in my generation may have fewer things to conquer than I do. I come from a very traditional Muslim family. My father is our only source of income and my mother does all the house work from cooking to taking the garbage out. My father never thinks about helping with the housework and my mother never complains. My mother had raised seven children, led a home life all on her own because my father was never around. He brings in the money that pays for our bills and since he does that he feels he does not need to spend quality time with his children. My mother works so hard that ten men would not be able to complete her daily work. At times we would be eating lunch; she would never eat until we were finished thinking that the food she made wouldn’t feed all of us. Instead of appreciating what she does she is instead taken for granted by my father. He thinks that she is simply fulfilling her role of a wife and mother. . I have conquered my charming, unselfish, sympathetic, weak, and stupid angels and become the women I am today. Today, I have a mind and wishes of my own. I am taking myself seriously. I want society to take me seriously as well and not be looked at the ignorant, naive Muslim woman who will only get married and have kids. Knowing the society I live in and many others in the world, I know there will be many other angels I will face and I will surely conquer them.