The "typical" woman portrayed throughout history is the domestic housewife; one that which cleans the house while her husband is at work, prepares meals, and makes sure the children are cared for. This idea is carried throughout most of history to today.
The 17th century woman had a hefty task of keeping the house clean. The colonial era proved to be a very difficult time in keeping houses clean, as there was no running water and the houses were primarily of dirt and timbers. Even so, women were still focused on keeping the beds, walls, and glass of the windows clean. Though they were responsible for keeping the home as clean as possible, colonial housewives also tended to the garden for dinners as well as preparation and preservation of food for the winter.
During the 18th century, a woman's domestic work surrounded mainting the home while their husbands were away at war. They also spun yarn and bought war bonds in order to support the troops.
The Civil War saw even more women being left at home to tend for the house and the farm. In addition to the normal domestic duties, these women were also responsible for keeping watch over farm hands and slaves.
As the years progressed, many women chose to leave the home and obtain professional degrees; now, it was far easier for women to remain single and advance in their careers, as opposed to getting married and working in the home. While some women choose to be "stay at home" moms, many are in the workforce and have left behind the idea that the role of women's work is to only maintain the household.
Bibliography:
All historical information utilized from "A History of Women in America" by Janet L. Coryell and Nora Faires, Chapters 1-10.
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