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Brian Uribe
Professor Bieber
English 115 Honors
29 September 2015
Year of Domesticity Summary
In the article The Year of Domesticity David Brooks, an editorial writer for The Ney
York Times, clashed views Linda Hirshman on how a woman can impact on domestic issues in
society. Hirshman, a retired Brandeis professor, wrote that women who stayed unemployed were
oppressing themselves by staying inactive. Hirshman stated that a woman who held an
occupation had an edge in the market economy. Hirshman claimed that a significant other should
share their responsibilities, that the spouse should carry their share of the weight in an equal
relationship. She concluded that women should pursue their career before settling down in the
hopes that women compete with men at higher levels of society. Brooks believed Hirshman was
wrong and that the modern setting has opened up an unprecedented amount of opportunities for
women. Brooks argued that people flourished more through parenthood than an occupation, that
maintaining a family is more fulfilling than the demands of an office job. Brooks responded that
women who settled down were not powerless, in fact they have unmatched influence and the
ability to mold their children into complete characters. Brooks mentioned it was no coincidence
that gender roles came to be but by how our brains and bodies developed. Brooks concluded that
the influence parents have on their children reflects domestic issues in society and that a strong
family creates a healthy nation.

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Works Cited
Brooks, David. "The Year of Domesticity." The New York Times. The New York Times
Company, 01 Jan. 2006. Web. 28 Sept. 2015.