[speaker001:] Uh, basically I'm at home and I have two cats
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] and my husband, I mean my husband's great.
[speaker002:] Oh, uh-huh.
[speaker001:] It's wonderful,
[speaker002:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] you know, and, and, uh, so I'm about forty and whatever,
[speaker002:] Uh-huh [LAUGHTER]. Around there, huh.
[speaker001:] So, yeah.
[speaker002:] Well, you're, you're just a youngster then [LAUGHTER].
[speaker001:] Yeah, I'm just a
[speaker002:] I passed [LAUGHTER] the fifty.
[speaker001:] spring chicken, I guess [LAUGHTER].
[speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] So, I guess our topic's going to be changes in the women's roles, so
[speaker001:] Well,
[speaker002:] it should be real interesting.
[speaker001:] Righto [LAUGHTER].
[speaker002:] So, you think we're ready?
[speaker001:] I think I'm ready [LAUGHTER].
[speaker002:] Okay [beep] okay. Uh, you want to start off?
[speaker001:] Well, let's see, the changes I've seen in women's roles, uh, since I am in the forty age, I'm a fifties baby
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] uh, and from my mother's generation to my generation it's just a very, very wide, uh, it's been a big change.
[speaker002:] Very much, yeah, yeah.
[speaker001:] Very much, and I think you'll have to agree and
[speaker002:] Yes.
[speaker001:] and since we were in, uh, sort of the ground level, the bra burning of the sixties,
[speaker002:] Uh-huh, uh-huh.
[speaker001:] and, and we didn't really know what the agenda was going to be
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] uh, and I think, you know, it got off to a really radical, it has a radical fringe to it that, uh, I've sort of backed away from.
[speaker002:] I think all things get started sometimes in that manner.
[speaker001:] Yeah.
[speaker002:] You know, they come in that way.
[speaker001:] And, to make a change, you know, you have to make a splash.
[speaker002:] Uh-huh, uh-huh.
[speaker001:] But, to continue in that vein, I think it got a little bit warped and off the track
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] in several areas, but I really do think that women have made a contribution
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] uh, to human beings, I mean to be human and what it's like and have feelings and emotions and it's okay and I think, uh, you know on the other hand, I don't know that men have changed that much. So in, in contrast to the women's changes, uh, you know, the men stay steady,
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] and then the women change around them.
[speaker002:] I hadn't thought much about that, but that is true. That,
[speaker001:] Uh, I think men are trying.
[speaker002:] Uh-huh. Some of them.
[speaker001:] But they don't have a national organization of men,
[speaker002:] No.
[speaker001:] to, uh, help them out and
[speaker002:] No.
[speaker001:] uh, what's changing them, though, is the economic situation,
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] where both
[speaker002:] Very much.
[speaker001:] team, it has to be a team partnership now,
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] and they both have to work
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] and they both have to raise the children,
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] if we're going to have any kind of future at all,
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] and, and that, I think has been the downfall of the last ten years.
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] You know, the me, oh, I don't know, the, the yuppiedom,
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] the whatever it was, the, you know, women didn't know how to go about doing the careers and they wanted to compete with men, they wanted to be like men,
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] and that's wrong.
[speaker002:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] I think they finally discovered that they don't want to be like men, men [LAUGHTER],
[speaker002:] Not, no, they, they hurt themselves a little bit in that way.
[speaker001:] Absolutely, and so that's, you know, they sort of threw the thing back another, you know, ten years,
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] that they've had to, you know, restructure, but I saw the greatest T-shirt the other day,
[speaker002:] [LAUGHTER].
[speaker001:] I got to get some for all my men friends,
[speaker002:] [LAUGHTER].
[speaker001:] it says, let men run the world, women have more important things to do [LAUGHTER].
[speaker002:] There you go [LAUGHTER]. There's a lot of truth in that.
[speaker001:] Right.
[speaker002:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] But, uh, I think men and women both have valuable, valuable assets to offer
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] and, you know, we shouldn't, we were made differently,
[speaker002:] That's right.
[speaker001:] however you come to that conclusion, we were biologically, physiologically, made differently and there is great wonderment,
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] in that, and, uh, you know, we should respect that in each other so,
[speaker002:] Yes, it shouldn't be destroyed.
[speaker001:] Right.
[speaker002:] Yeah, yeah.
[speaker001:] And, and, you know, just sort of all s-, swooshed into one channel
[speaker002:] Uh-huh, uh-huh.
[speaker001:] sort of thing, it's, it's viva la difference [LAUGHTER],
[speaker002:] Yeah, yeah.
[speaker001:] someone said that
[speaker002:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] and I think that you can truly respect the other person, I mean, you know, Tom is just always saying, what a mystery you are, you know [LAUGHTER], you know. Depends,
[speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] Well, that's kind of makes it exciting.
[speaker001:] Yeah.
[speaker002:] You know.
[speaker001:] Well that depends on what day of the month it is.
[speaker002:] Yeah [LAUGHTER].
[speaker001:] But, uh, I don't know, I guess we've gotten more of a, in, in terms of that, I think we've got more of a sense of humor about each other
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] and our roles, and, but it's still a challenge being in a marriage and trying to figure out those roles and,
[speaker002:] I think now when both are working they have a more ch-, more of a chance of working together because they're starting out that way.
[speaker001:] Yeah, well, that's, that's a very different way to do,
[speaker002:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] you know, the woman doesn't start off at home,
[speaker002:] Right.
[speaker001:] raising the kids and goes back into her career, you know,
[speaker002:] Right.
[speaker001:] twenty years later.
[speaker002:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] Uh,
[speaker002:] Because you get set in your ways and it's,
[speaker001:] You do.
[speaker002:] really hard because to, to really to get help.
[speaker001:] Yeah.
[speaker002:] Uh, d-, you know to get the work load shared.
[speaker001:] Are, are you married?
[speaker002:] Yes, uh-huh. Our,
[speaker001:] Do you have children?
[speaker002:] I, we have five children, they're [LAUGHTER],
[speaker001:] Oh, my goodness.
[speaker002:] They're all grown and on their own so,
[speaker001:] Oh, my.
[speaker002:] They're, uh,
[speaker001:] How did you do?
[speaker002:] Uh, how do you mean that? [LAUGHTER].
[speaker001:] Well, I mean, okay, well did you have boys, girls, how did, how,
[speaker002:] Uh, we have, uh, two girls and three boys and our,
[speaker001:] Oh, my.
[speaker002:] our baby girl just had a baby girl [LAUGHTER].
[speaker001:] Oh, my.
[speaker002:] Last week was her first baby.
[speaker001:] Oh, how exiting.
[speaker002:] So it's been real exciting.
[speaker001:] I, I tell you what. I don't know what I would do without my friends having all their kids.
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] I just love the babies
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] and, and since I'm sort of in a medical situation where I can't do that, it's,
[speaker002:] Yeah. Have you been that way long?
[speaker001:] Just eight years, just
[speaker002:] Just eight years.
[speaker001:] the most important years of my life you know [LAUGHTER].
[speaker002:] That's, that's a long eight years, though.
[speaker001:] Yeah, it has been.
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] And, uh, so there have been major, major adjustments,
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] but that's another story.
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] But, you know, my husband has really, really filled in the gaps, I mean I,
[speaker002:] That makes a big difference.
[speaker001:] I couldn't ask for a better life.
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] I mean if this is the way it had to be,
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] this is the best way,
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] I could possibly do it and, and that has a lot to do with his strength and his, just pitching in and, and his being able to, you know, all, all ego aside, do a lot of things
[speaker002:] Uh-huh, uh-huh.
[speaker001:] that really, so, when I say men haven't changed I guess I should look at my own backyard sort,
[speaker002:] Yes.
[speaker001:] of thing [LAUGHTER] and,
[speaker002:] Well, probably your role and, and the way you are also has changed, though.
[speaker001:] Oh, yeah.
[speaker002:] You know, compared to what it would have been twenty, fifty years ago.
[speaker001:] Yeah, that's true. I mean, boy, I mean I, I would have had so, I had so much guilt to begin with and the changes that had to take place, you know,
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] where I couldn't do a lot of things
[speaker002:] Uh-huh, uh-huh.
[speaker001:] and, uh, just adjusting to that,
[speaker002:] Uh-huh, uh-huh.
[speaker001:] that, uh, yeah, that was a major change,
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] but so, I guess [breathing], uh, in the end, you know, you each take your own situation and you, and you deal with it the best you can, but
[speaker002:] The best you can, yeah.
[speaker001:] but, but women I think are a whole, you know sort of riding the course, they're, they're got a little wobbly and a little shaky there, I think the future of this whole thing is going to be what happens with the day care situation.
[speaker002:] I, yeah, that's the only thing I worry about is the, the child's love and security. That, I think that's being damaged, uh,
[speaker001:] I think,
[speaker002:] a lot.
[speaker001:] we're going to see a generation of kids that, you know, are just going to be a little bit, uh, [lipsmack] oh, not very nurturing.
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] I think,
[speaker002:] I do, too. I, I think, uh, now some, some women can, can do both. They're very capable of working and, and,
[speaker001:] Yeah, but I wish they weren't so many, I, I wish they weren't role models for everybody,
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] because it's so dangerous.
[speaker002:] It, it really is, yeah.
[speaker001:] It's dangerous for the woman, too, to think that she can do that and then when she can't, you know, the failure of that is,
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] you know, her life sort of falls apart and she doesn't know who she is and she's,
[speaker002:] So many have to work to make a go of it, it seems,
[speaker001:] Absolutely.
[speaker002:] or they say they do anyways, and, but I think ones that don't have to, the, it's not as much of a stigma not to work as it was for a while there.
[speaker001:] Well, you know, I think that's, that's really, I think it depends on what part of the country you're in.
[speaker002:] Well, that could be.
[speaker001:] Uh, I, I would almost just say that because, you know, down here in the south
[speaker002:] Uh-huh, uh-huh.
[speaker001:] you know, a woman's role is,
[speaker002:] Uh.
[speaker001:] a woman's role,
[speaker002:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] sort of thing,
[speaker002:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] and you know,
[speaker002:] You mean it's stronger there?
[speaker001:] Uh, oh, yeah, yeah.
[speaker002:] Much stronger.
[speaker001:] And, and I think that, uh, [lipsmack] you know, career women still have a lot of problems here,
[speaker002:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] with the good old boys,
[speaker002:] Right.
[speaker001:] here in Texas sort of thing,
[speaker002:] Right.
[speaker001:] making career moves but,
[speaker002:] Right.
[speaker001:] Uh, you know, in terms of women staying home and being appreciated for their talents, uh, it's just like the way it, it has been for years.
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] I mean, you know, since the days of the pioneers, around here.
[speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] Yeah, yeah.
[speaker001:] That's the woman's role,
[speaker002:] Yes.
[speaker001:] and it, and it's hard for her to, uh, you know, watch her peers be appreciated, I think sometimes, but then I'm not there, so I don't know that.
[speaker002:] Yeah, yeah.
[speaker001:] And I have women that do both and I see a little jealousy on the part of, you know, the woman what has two little boys and, and she has an au pair, which is a live-in college kid working for her and then she has her business in the back
[speaker002:] Uh.
[speaker001:] and then my other girlfriend that has, you know, just runs the whole household herself and just has two kids and goes crazy,
[speaker002:] Uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh.
[speaker001:] all the time. And so I see I little bit of that and I always wish there was a balance, you know,
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] with the one and, and wish she could spend more time with her kids and the other gal I wish she could just get out of Dodge,
[speaker002:] Right.
[speaker001:] for a while [LAUGHTER].
[speaker002:] But they're both,
[speaker001:] Get some peace and quiet.
[speaker002:] Yeah, they're both different people, too. That's,
[speaker001:] Yeah, definitely, so. You're right about that.
[speaker002:] That's where the trouble lies.
[speaker001:] Yeah.
[speaker002:] Some people, some people can adjust and have both, do both well,
[speaker001:] And that's,
[speaker002:] and others can't.
[speaker001:] That's true. That's so true. How, how did your daughter do it?
[speaker002:] Uh, well, uh, I have one daughter that works full-time. She has two little boys.
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] And, they seem to do fine. She has been talk-, has talked about quitting, you know, and staying home for a few years. But then, it's real hard because she's got an excellent job.
[speaker001:] Right.
[speaker002:] Uh.