Women in the twentieth century echo just one, but a very important, area of phenomenal transition mainstreaming into twenty-first century culture. This transition has brought true change into our world like nothing else in the last five thousand years.
With a natural instinct to nurture and heal, women easily take on the role of motherhood, caring for and defending her off-spring. On the other hand, males seem driven to seek out mates so as to procreate and produce after their like kind. Of course we all know that this is an inexhaustible subject …so we won’t begin down that road at this juncture. We will, however, take a quick look at the home where procreation is best enabled and protected for a brief synopsis of change brought about in the twentieth century.
Women have always been used in the media. Before cameras were invented, paintings aplenty were done of Madonna, Mary holding baby Jesus, Mary Magdalene, women slaves, school teachers, mean, witchy looking females and angelic beings to just name a few.
Women were most often equated with being motherly in some fashion, or at least sexy. In the past, women have traditionally been regarded as the preservers of culture. An old adage reminds us that “the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world,” and consequently, history. How can this be, some doubters challenge? Simple, just watch a mother flutter over her brood in the nest as she gives birth, nurses and eventually gathers her young ones around the dinner table until they are ready to fly the roost. During those years of nurturing, characters are formed and values are established. This is the period when little ones grow up into leaders and well rounded citizens…hence comes another old adage, “As the home goes so does the nation.” The truth of this dictum is evident today and easily recognized by society though never mentioned.
Since the early 60’s, home has taken the greatest hit by changes brought about in the 20th century. Children left fending for themselves, while both parents work is now acceptable in our culture. Blended families, rampant divorce, single parenting, unmarried children with children living with their parents; or same sex partners claiming to be husband and wife are just a few of the drastic changes in America’s home setting. Devastating results have already been documented and incorporated into human behavior studies and has “specialists” scrambling for counteracting answers.
During World War 11, women left home to work in factories, thrusting them into a role apart from their families. The era of TV then took women into an arena where femininity was no longer the focus. She became a target for advertising, lured by stoking the smokes from slim and trim Sister Virginia. When the smokes became sad and bad because of cancer risks, women were encouraged to give up the so-called sophisticated habit. This decline in the tobacco industry changed the face of America politically and socially as well.
After decades of suffering the “broken syndrome,” the home now receives an immense amount of negative attention. A Nation that once took pride in its high morals and values is now looked down upon by other nations and criticized for its corruption. Consequently, the secularists, along with those in supposed religious circles, have begun an attempt to restore the home base…but, without using the old adages as standards.
Progress is exciting and can structurally strengthen the cause if it builds from a solid foundation. However, if the old foundation is dug up, carted into oblivion and the ground left bare, what will progress be built upon? Nothing can take the place of the traditional home which was once the rock base from which America was developed. Nothing can replace the hands that rock the cradle and keep the home fires burning.
Women, do not underestimate your worth in the home. You may be an executive of a large corporation…maybe the President of these United States of America…but, never will you have a job more meaningful than rocking the cradle and keeping the home fires burning bright, shedding light and warmth for those closest to you.
Barbara A. Beyer © 2008
