Anthony Tucker Period 1 9/16/11 T: Adamant P: Inform T: Promote Equality Politics of Housework Analysis In Pat Mainardis paper the

politics of housework she adamantly informs the reader about her promotion of equality for men and women especially in the household. Throughout the article she describes the stereotypical roles assigned to men and women. The premise of the article is that women have always been oppressed into doing tedious chores without much help from men; therefore, women should divide the housework equally with their spouse. She presents this by the use of hyperbole, point of view, and syntax. In order to make a point about mens oppressive behavior Mainardi uses hyperbole. The author exaggerates how men look and think frequently in the article. For example, As he felt himself backed into a comer laden with dirty brooms, mops, and reeking garbage, his front teeth grew longer and pointier, his fingernails haggled and his eyes grew wild. Men are obviously not becoming demons like she is describing, however, she does this to make the transformation from a man to a lazy man visible and even comical. Another example would be when Mainardi writes about her husband responses to her requests to share the housework: "I hate it more than you. You don't mind it so much." The author interprets this as Meaning. Housework is garbage work. It's the worst crap I've ever done. It's degrading and humiliating for someone of my intelligence to do it. But for someone of your intelligence ... most people would not consider what the husband said the way Mainardi did but her use of hyperbole makes the husband seem like a very harsh and arrogant person. These examples clearly demonstrate why Mainardi used hyperbole to get her point across.