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Firstly: Compare the tasks 4-7 p. 9 -

Secondly: Pre-Reading tasks " The weekend" part 1

Thirdly: Pre-Reading tasks "the weekend" part 2

Lastly: Reading strategies and how to read a short story

If we still have time: Start reading the story!

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SOL Part 1: Evaluate your mediation (your homework) - with the help of the check list and if necessary improve it.  If you like send me your final result on IServ

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SOL Part 1: Evaluate your mediation (your homework) - with the help of the check list and if necessary improve it.  If you like send me your final result on IServ

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Listening Comprehension The Bold Type – Episode 1 Feminism-4-2

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Frilly dresses and white supremacy: welcome to the weird, frightening world of ‘trad wives’
by Sian Norris

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p. 24 / p. 25 task 1 and 2, task 3 (in groups and take notes!)

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1. Listening - p. 30 - task 13 - equality in sports

2. p. 31 - task 15 - talk to 3 different people in your class.

3. Have a guess - p. 31 - task 16

4. Mediation - blog post - see skill page "mediation" and "how to write a blog post"

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How to write a mediation - 3 steps - a detailed look

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1. presentations of the results photos/diagram

2. Milling around - p. 27 - task 4

3. Cartoon - p. 27 task 6 - 4 steps! (individual work, -> compare with partner)

4. Reading - p. 28 task - task 7 (with a partner)

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SOL PART 2: Group work - Group size 3-4 people max. Read the instructions carefully! 

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SOL PART 2: Group work - Group size 3-4 people max. Read the instructions carefully! 

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Task one: Build a group with 3-4 people and choose one of the following topics - each topic should be covered and 2 groups can work on the same topic :).

Type in your group and your chosen topic as a comment below this post!

Topic 1: violence against women

Topic 2: Gender roles and stereotypes - men/women - (now and then)

Topic 3: empowerment of women -

Topic 4: feminism - term/meaning/movement/history

Then do some internet/social media research on your topic and prepare a short presentation with pp/canva on your chosen topic - include also some fitting social media contents regarding your topic (videos/influencers/awareness posts) if possible

If you have a question - WhatsApp Mrs. Willms - see you soon! :)

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Why is the loss of individuality a bad thing?

What is group think?

Why does conformity lead to discrimination?

What is wrong with not questioning authority?

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1. Homework - Reading plus write down four questions on the text

now ask each other (your partner/neighbour) your questions and answer them. Take notes.

2. then together with your partner work on task c (examples) and d (dangers of individualism)

3. p. 29 task 10 and 11 (individual work)

4. Writing a comment - (skill file - how to write comment; uploaded on Padlet) - write a short intro, main part (2-3 arguments), a short concluding sentence

5) Listening comprehension - p. 30

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The Conversation - Women demanding equality in sport - BBC Sounds

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Catch up on your favourite BBC radio show from your favourite DJ right here, whenever you like. Listen without limits with BBC Sounds.

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Step 1 - work with a partner (small group of 3)

Step 2 - Agree on 3 challenges and 3 chances that are most important to you

Step 3 - type in your results on your once cards and upload them -- green = chances ; red = challenges

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Willkommen auf ONCOO. Hier finden Sie eine Sammlung von Werkzeugen (Tools) zum kooperativen Lernen, die mit PC, Laptop, Smartboard, Smartphone und Tablet genutzt werden können.

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While Gloria Steinem’s statement, “A gender-equal society would be one where the word 'gender' does not exist: where everyone can be themselves,” presents a compelling vision of equality, I respectfully disagree with the notion that the absence of the concept of gender is necessary—or even desirable—for achieving true equality.

Gender is an intrinsic part of human identity for many people, encompassing not only biological differences but also cultural, social, and personal dimensions. Erasing the concept of gender could inadvertently erase the rich diversity of experiences, identities, and histories tied to it. Rather than striving for a society where gender doesn’t exist, we should aim for one where gender is respected and valued as one aspect of a person’s multifaceted identity. Equality does not require the elimination of differences but the recognition and celebration of them without prejudice or discrimination.

In conclusion, the goal should not be to eliminate the concept of gender but to create a society where gender does not limit one’s opportunities, rights, or ability to be themselves. By acknowledging and embracing gender diversity, we can work toward a more inclusive and truly equal society, where everyone is free to express their identity in all its complexity.

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Empowerment of Woman Präsentation from Ilayda Riemer

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In the short story "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin, written in 1892 , Louise Mallard deals with the assumed death of her husband Brently.

Initially, she grieves, but soon, alone in her room, she experiences an unexpected sense of freedom. Through the open window, she sees signs of new life and realizes she is now free from the constraints of marriage. Despite having loved her husband, she feels a profound joy at the thought of living for herself.

As Louise embraces this newfound freedom, her sister Josephine pleads with her to open the door, worried that she is making herself ill. Louise eventually leaves her room, triumphant and rejuvenated. However, just as she descends the stairs, Brently unexpectedly enters the house, alive and unaware of the accident. Shocked by his return, Louise collapses and dies. The doctors later claim she died from the shock of joy, but the story suggests a deeper, more complex emotional cause related to her loss of freedom.

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In the short story "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin, written in 1892 , Louise Mallard deals with the assumed death of her husband Brently.

Initially, she grieves, but soon, alone in her room, she experiences an unexpected sense of freedom. Through the open window, she sees signs of new life and realizes she is now free from the constraints of marriage. Despite having loved her husband, she feels a profound joy at the thought of living for herself.

As Louise embraces this newfound freedom, her sister Josephine pleads with her to open the door, worried that she is making herself ill. Louise eventually leaves her room, triumphant and rejuvenated. However, just as she descends the stairs, Brently unexpectedly enters the house, alive and unaware of the accident. Shocked by his return, Louise collapses and dies. The doctors later claim she died from the shock of joy, but the story suggests a deeper, more complex emotional cause related to her loss of freedom.

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Repetition: What is typical for short stories? 

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Repetition: What is typical for short stories? 

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Together with a partner - write down what you remember about short stories and their characteristics. Type down your top 3 and upload them on oncoo.

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Willkommen auf ONCOO. Hier finden Sie eine Sammlung von Werkzeugen (Tools) zum kooperativen Lernen, die mit PC, Laptop, Smartboard, Smartphone und Tablet genutzt werden können.

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1. Compare work on task 2-3 p. 8 in your books

2. Work on task 4 - 7 - work in a little group

3. Individual work: task 9 - choose ONE - if you pick the comic strip

use - https://www.storyboardthat.com/ or alternatively Canva

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Setting of the Mallard's home - why is it essential?

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Setting of the Mallard's home - why is it essential?

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Neutrois = gender that is outside the binary gender system

pangender = a person either identifies as a countless number of separate identities that they are fluid between over time, or that they identify as one all encompassing identity

intergender = is a variation in sex characteristics including chromosomes and or genitals that do not allow an individual to be directly identified as male or female

Travesti = people who were assigned male at birth and develop a feminine gender identity

Demiboy = a person who feels their gender identity partially identifies with a masculine identity but is not wholly binary

Demigirl = a person who partially identifies as a woman or girl

Lesbian = a woman who has a romantic and/or sexual orientation towards women

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The short story "Weekend" by Fay Weldon deals with the challenges of domestic life and gender roles, particularly for women.

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The short story "Weekend" by Fay Weldon deals with the challenges of domestic life and gender roles, particularly for women.

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Martha and her family are heading to their country cottage for a weekend getaway. While Martin, her husband, and the children relax, Martha is burdened with endless chores and responsibilities. She cooks, cleans, and caters to everyone's needs, feeling unappreciated and exhausted.

As the weekend progresses, Martha's frustration grows. Martin criticizes her efforts, the children are demanding, and the guests add to the chaos. She feels trapped in her role as a domestic servant, expected to fulfill everyone's desires while neglecting her own.

The story highlights the societal expectations placed on women, particularly in the 1970s when it was written. Martha's experience reflects the challenges faced by many women who juggle work and family life, often feeling undervalued and overwhelmed.

By the end of the weekend, Martha is emotionally drained. The story leaves readers contemplating the unfairness of gender roles and the need for greater recognition and support for women's contributions to family life.

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need help understanding the short story? - Watch this video!

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need help understanding the short story? - Watch this video!

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Watch The Bold Type - Der Weg nach oben - Staffel 1 [dt./OV] | Prime Video

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Sie haben mehr als nur Sex in New York City: Jane, Kat und Sutton arbeiten beim internationalen Frauenmagazin „Scarlet“ an einer Karriere zwischen Mode, Lifestyle, Klicks und Glamour. Aber ihr Weg nach oben ist nicht nur mit roten Teppichen gepflastert, wie die von Cosmopolitan-Chefredakteurin Joanna Coles inspirierte Serie mit viel Gespür für zeitgeistige Themen und die Lebenswelt(en) moderner junger Frauen unter Beweis stellt.

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Task 1 Outline a text (article)

Task 2 Discuss a statement (connected to our topic - women, feminism, short stories)

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1. Exam hints

2. Your homework - compare

3. Pre-task the first feminists (Women's rights short research)

4. Pre-task 2 - information file feminism - Read it - and do task 2 on page 20

5. Read the short story (look up words you don't know if necessary) and work on task 3, 4 and 5 p. 24

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Peach and Beige Fun English Reading Style Educational Poster

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Reading the Short Story "The weekend" - use the strategies mentioned in the padlet!

1. need further help? Watch the YouTube video also in the Padlet!

2. Finish task 3, 4 and 6

3. Fill in the grid of task 7 (work in small groups if possible)

4. Write a characterization of one of characters from the story (How to write a characterization - skill page uploaded on pallet)!

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U.S. : Driving: late 19th, early 20th - but there were differences depeding on the states.

Vote: 1920

Working: 1964 (Civil Rights act)

UK: Driving: women weren't explicitly banned from driving, but mostly did for work purposes starting in the late 19th due to the world wars.

Vote: 1918, 1928

Working: late 19th if you were married and your husband agreed, during the war,

, 1970s (equal pay, sex discrimination act)

Germany: Driving: 1949 , 1958

Vote: 1918

Working: 1949 (law that allowed women to work)

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Compare p.24/25 in your books - task 1, 2 and 3

Gap text - Information on Barbie

Group work barbie - Group 1 and Group 2

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1. Compare SOL - task 3, 4, 6 and 7

2. Read your characterization to a partner and use the checklist to give each other feedback

3. Write a comparison (task 8) - see skill page / checklist how to write a comparison

4. Listening interview with Fay Weldon (If we still have time)

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AB_Fay Weldon_video link and questionsSUS

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"The Weekend" by Fay Weldon is a short story about the complexities of relationships, aging, and power dynamics. The story takes place during a weekend getaway at a country house, where four old friends—Martha, Martin, Lacey, and Helen—gather with their partners. While the setting appears idyllic, tensions quickly arise, exposing the cracks in their friendships and personal lives.

Martha, the central character, is overwhelmed by the responsibilities of organizing the trip while dealing with her unappreciative husband, Martin. She feels under pressure to maintain the household and cater to the group, even as she struggles with feelings of aging and invisibility. Meanwhile, Lacey and Helen, who are wealthier and seemingly more confident, subtly assert their superiority, leaving Martha feeling inferior.

The story reveals how old friends can drift apart over time, especially when their lives and social statuses change. It highlights the emotional labor women often perform in relationships and examines themes of resentment, inequality, and unspoken tensions.

By the end of the weekend, the characters leave with unresolved conflicts, reflecting the complexity of maintaining friendships and marriages in middle age. The story invites readers to think about their relationships and the unbalanced roles people often take on within them.

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Comparison of Martha and Katie in "The Weekend" by Fay Weldon

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Comparison of Martha and Katie in "The Weekend" by Fay Weldon

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Martha and Katie are contrasting characters in Fay Weldon’s "The Weekend," representing two different generations, attitudes, and life experiences. Their differences highlight key themes of the story, such as aging, societal roles, and personal freedom.

Generational Contrast

Martha: As an older woman, Martha embodies the traditional role of a wife and caregiver. She has spent her life prioritizing others' needs, particularly her husband Martin’s, and feels trapped by the expectations of her generation.

Katie: Katie, as a younger woman, represents a more modern and independent generation. She refuses to conform to traditional gender roles, showing confidence and freedom in her choices.

Relationship with Responsibility

Martha: She takes on the role of organizer and hostess for the weekend, shouldering the emotional and practical labor without receiving recognition or gratitude. Her sense of duty defines her, but it also leaves her feeling overburdened and resentful.

Katie: Katie is carefree and detached from such responsibilities. She does not feel obligated to cater to others, reflecting a stark contrast to Martha’s self-sacrificing attitude.

Attitudes Toward Aging and Appearance

Martha: Aging is a source of insecurity for Martha. She envies Katie’s youth and beauty, which remind her of her lost vitality and the sacrifices she made in her life.

Katie: As a young woman, Katie appears confident in her appearance and unconcerned about the passage of time. Her presence accentuates Martha’s struggles with self-worth.

Role in Relationships

Martha: She has a strained, imbalanced marriage with Martin, who takes her for granted. Her relationships with her friends are also marked by subtle power struggles and unspoken tensions.

Katie: Katie’s relationship with Stephen (Helen’s son) is not explored in detail but reflects modern, less traditional dynamics. She appears emotionally independent and unwilling to adopt a subservient role.

Overall Perspective on Life

Martha: Martha is reflective, burdened by regrets and unresolved emotions. She feels stuck in her role and longs for recognition and fairness.

Katie: Katie is confident, self-assured, and focused on her own happiness. She serves as a symbol of freedom and modern values, contrasting sharply with Martha’s traditional struggles.

Conclusion

Martha and Katie represent two sides of the spectrum: the older, self-sacrificing woman shaped by societal expectations and the younger, liberated woman free from such constraints. Their differences highlight the generational shift in attitudes toward gender roles, relationships, and personal fulfillment, underscoring the story’s exploration of inequality and change.

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Discuss the statement - "Men should be busy, brave, and enterprising, while women should take care of housework and be gentle and beautiful."

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Discuss the statement - "Men should be busy, brave, and enterprising, while women should take care of housework and be gentle and beautiful."

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Introduction

Traditional gender roles have long defined how men and women are expected to behave in society. The statement that men should be "busy, brave, and enterprising," while women should focus on "housework and be gentle and beautiful" reflects such outdated views. While some people argue that these roles have historical and biological roots, others believe that they are restrictive and no longer relevant in modern society. This essay will explore both sides of the argument before reaching a conclusion.

Main Part

Pro Arguments

First of all, traditional gender roles developed over centuries because men were often seen as physically stronger, suitable for tasks requiring bravery or enterprise, while women were viewed as better suited for domestic work due to their role in childbirth and caregiving. Some argue that these roles are natural and efficient. (Historical division of labor). This can also be seen in the short story “weekend” by Fay Weldon. The character Martha…

In addition adhering to traditional gender roles can provide stability and clarity in relationships and society. Clear expectations can make it easier for families to function, as each member has specific roles to fulfill. (Cultural Stability)

However, traditional  gender roles  restrict individuals from pursuing their interests or talents. Men might want to take care of their families or express emotions, while women might excel in careers outside the home. So, this kind of stereotypes often prevent people from living authentically. For example….

Furthermore in today’s world, technological advances and legal changes have made traditional roles unnecessary. For example, women can perform jobs that were once considered "men’s work," and men can share caregiving responsibilities thanks to parental leave policies. Equality benefits everyone by allowing flexibility and shared responsibility.

In summary - while traditional gender roles have historical roots and may still work for some people, in my opinionthey are increasingly seen as restrictive and out of step with modern values. Society benefits when both men and women are free to choose their paths without being limited by stereotypes. True progress comes from embracing equality and allowing everyone to reach their full potential, whether at home or in the workplace.

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Bernardine Evaristo is the First Black Woman to Win the Booker Prize | Amanpour and Company

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"The Weekend" by Fay Weldon is a short story about the complexities of relationships, aging, and power dynamics. The story takes place during a weekend getaway at a country house, where four old friends—Martha, Martin, Lacey, and Helen—gather with their partners. While the setting appears idyllic, tensions quickly arise, exposing the cracks in their friendships and personal lives.

Martha, the central character, is overwhelmed by the responsibilities of organizing the trip while dealing with her unappreciative husband, Martin. She feels under pressure to maintain the household and cater to the group, even as she struggles with feelings of aging and invisibility. Meanwhile, Lacey and Helen, who are wealthier and seemingly more confident, subtly assert their superiority, leaving Martha feeling inferior.

The story reveals how old friends can drift apart over time, especially when their lives and social statuses change. It highlights the emotional labor women often perform in relationships and examines themes of resentment, inequality, and unspoken tensions.

By the end of the weekend, the characters leave with unresolved conflicts, reflecting the complexity of maintaining friendships and marriages in middle age. The story invites readers to think about their relationships and the unbalanced roles people often take on within them.

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1. Return of the exams plus short revision

2. Barbie - Group work

part 1 Listening

part 2 Reading

3. Presentation of the results on Thursday

4. Already done? Fill in the gap text on barbie (uploaded on padlet)

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Worksheet Feminism in the US (Barbie doll)-2

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Life in Plastic, It’s Fantastic - Barbie Redefines Feminism  | Tanya Vidhun | TEDxValenciaHighSchool

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The history of Barbie – How Barbie became famous-3

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»Barbie«: Shakira polarisiert mit Aussage, Film sei »entmannend«

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Die kolumbianische Sängerin Shakira wurde mit Hits wie »Hips Don’t Lie« weltweit bekannt. Was den Blockbuster »Barbie« angeht, hat sie aber eine konservative Haltung: Männer hätten eine Aufgabe in der Gesellschaft, Frauen eine andere.

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The impact of dolls like Barbie – Reflecting on culture and stereotypes-2

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And action! – Let’s watch the “Barbie” film

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Topic 1_ Talking about gender inequality-2

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2024_04_15_Check list - Written Discussion

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Take notes on:

What is this trend all about?

Read the vogue article on the Trad wife experiment!

Write a comment -the Trad Wives trend - what do you think? (Your opinion on this!)

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1. Compare pre-tasks "the weekend"

2. Reading the Short Story - use the strategies mentioned in the padlet!

need further help? Watch the YouTube video also in the Padlet!

work on task 3, 4 and 6

already done? Complete task 5 as well!

group work task 7 - group of 3

3. In between - oral grades so far!

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Worksheet Feminism in the US (Barbie doll)

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‘Barbie’ Review: Out of the Box and On the Road

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She’s in the driver’s seat, headed for uncharted territory (flat feet!). But there are limits to how much dimension even Greta Gerwig can give this branded material.

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As a working mother of two small children living a cosmopolitan lifestyle in Paris, Monica Ainley couldn't get over the online "trad wife" phenomenon - a return to starkly defined gender roles: wives quietly and contentedly keep house while husbands control the purse strings. So much so that she decided to try the lifestyle out and see for herself. She shares her diary in an essay for British Vogue.

I have always subscribed to the idea that feminism, in its purest form, is about choice. Want to be an astronaut and fly to the moon? Do it. Care to forego marriage and children entirely? Power to you. Prefer to stay at home to raise your kids? Hats off. When I was a teenager, my parents sent me to a girls' school in Toronto with a motto: "Girls can do anything." Cheesy, perhaps, but I am fortunate to have grown up in an environment where choice felt like a given.

So why am I so riled up by the "trad wife" movement? What is this gut-flipping repulsion that comes over me when Gen-Z and millennial housewives or practising SAHGs (stay-at-home girlfriends) promote patriarchal relationship values online? Why is it that me and my urban, financially independent, working mom friends all find ourselves shouting back at their videos in such a tizz? Shouldn't we live and let live? Some of the women I respect most in the world are homemakers - albeit the less submissive sort. Should we really feel threatened by a niche group of self-promoting, flower-arranging, bread-baking homesteaders?

The thing is, the trad wife subculture is big, and getting bigger: the topic has over 300 million views on TikTok. My sister - a tech founder and mother of two - DMs me clips of a woman who goes by @BallerinaFarm, who documents her home births, cow-milking and from-scratch cooking achievements for her 8.8 million followers, as her eight children amble around in the background. "HELL!" is my sister's typical accompanying message. I myself feel a shiver run down my spine when I scroll the @TradWivesClub account - a sort of how-to manual for those aspiring to the lifestyle. "Be your husband's biggest fan," reads one post. "No law can ever change what marriage is," declares another. One quote in particular catches my eye: "Culture says that marriage is modern-day slavery, but I have never felt more free."

I have trouble buying it. Surely behind every trad wife is the influence of some outdated patriarchal value system. What woman - what person, for that matter - would choose to play second fiddle to their partner if given another option? Or is it simply God behind all of this? (He is often involved in these sorts of shenanigans, to be fair.) The origins of the modern trad wife phenomenon can be traced to the US religious alt-right - apparently a cultural reaction to what ultra-conservatives see as OTT progressive feminism and the abandonment of traditional gender roles. But today, the trend extends beyond the Bible Belt.

Are the trad wives themselves adhering to the "live and let live" principle? TikToker @GwenTheMilkmaid helps to answer this for me. One of her videos, which finds Gwen flower-picking in a floaty white dress, is overlaid with the words: "Is it just me or are most women today completely blind to the fact that the promiscuous lifestyle, porn, multiple partners, the birth control pill, premarital sex and everything else the world glorifies today is actually destroying us? Protect femininity the way God created it to be." In a caption, Gwen adds: "Looking back, I can't believe how clueless I was [...] So this is a message for all of the young girls out there. Our culture is lying to you."

After weeks of watching these sorts of posts on a loop, it finally hit me: the only way to truly get to the bottom of all this was to try the lifestyle myself. I needed to become a trad wife. For one working week. I put work projects on hold, gave our beloved nanny a break, begged my friends who can cook for their easiest recipes (since having kids I can just about manage boiled vegetables, chicken fingers and pasta), and asked my husband to calculate a per diem allowance for myself and the children (my own bank account is s trictly off limits).

Here's how it went.

Day one

I wake feeling optimistic - perky even. I explain to Mia (turning three) and Arthur (16 months) that mum won't be working this week, she'll be at home with them, cleaning and cooking. I put on some blush and cover my zits but stay in my nightie (innocent-trad sexy?), figuring I need to conserve my beautifying energies for tonight, before my husband gets home.

Marc kisses me goodbye with an amused grin and I remind him to leave his credit card on the counter. I see a hint of anxiety flash across his face but he doesn't protest. I wonder if the trad wives ever sneak out to Prada. As he closes the door I do feel a pang of jealousy, and apprehension about spending all day inside (it's pouring out), but I force it away. I must brim with positive energy. I must set the tone.

There is a tonne of laundry to be done and I resist the urge to turn on cartoons. I don't want to break all my normal rules - this lifestyle is meant to be better for my kids, not increase their screen time. As soon as I fold an item they grab it and unfold it, but I try to keep my cool and remember what @TradWivesClub says: "Mamas, as you're folding laundry today, pray for the child whose clothes you are folding." I try to pray for my children, rather than praying they will stop bloody unfolding things.

Day two

I make a savoury tart with spinach and goat cheese for the first time in my life and feel genuinely proud. My kids miraculously eat some of the spinach and seem happy to have me around. We play dress up, then they agree to nap without protesting. Later we go to the park and then the grocery store, and I prepare dinner for my husband. They are better behaved than usual and Marc will be fed like a king after a long day. I feel deeply needed. Maybe it's not so bad after all?

Just one thing niggles. After being jumped on by the kids all day I am starting to grasp the meaning of the phrase " touched out". I cannot begin to imagine putting on a show of being up for it once they're finally in bed, and feel like a bit of a failure in this regard. I secretly hope the outside world will have tired Marc out, too.

Day Three

It's Valentine's Day and I am determined to pull out all the stops. As TikToker and trad wife @EsteeCWilliams reminds us, "men are very visual", so I have my outfit selected - a hot-pink and hyper-feminine Maison Rabih Kayrouz number with kitten heels - and have planned a menu of pork roast followed by chocolate fondant. I plan on filming myself cooking with a tripod, as my children's sweet little heads bob around in the background. If I'm going to be the world's best trad wife I should at least get to show off about it.

Turns out the content creation is a bit of an ask. My kids are emptying the larder, arguing and vying for my attention. Mia senses a weak moment and begs to watch Paw Patrol. How does Hannah Neeleman (aka Ballerina Farm) film her serene videos with eight children roaming loose? I'm beginning to understand all of the online theories around her family's finances - this woman must have a nanny (nannies?) she's not admitting to, and suddenly, this really pisses me off. She's selling me a lie.

During dinner, I insist on serving Marc drinks and checking on the kids myself, and apologise profusely when I realise I've forgotten to bring condiments to the table. Meanwhile he seems to be leaning into his role, happy to answer questions about his day but forgetting to ask me about mine. Or is it just that, besides the children, there isn't anything much to ask me about? I feel dull, kinda dead inside, and my world feels tiny compared to his. I am also obsessed with Marc's every move, every conversation he had that day, every high and low he experienced, every "yum" he utters. I am, I realise, living vicariously.

Day four

The kids are in a foul mood - Mia is coming down with something and taking it out on her brother, which in turn makes him insufferable. By 4pm a glass of wine is all I can think about. Not normally one for day drinking, I nonetheless figure the best way of soothing my frazzled nerves is with a glass of Pinot Grigio. Or two. As I sip I think about the incidence of alcoholism in post-war housewives, and tipsily decide I'm not far from comprehending how it all came about.

Day five

It's my birthday, and Marc breaks character to get the kids up and help them put candles in a cake (conveniently, the fridge contains several I made earlier). They all sing, and as Mia helps me blow out my candles, tears fill my eyes. Am I so exhausted I'm getting emotional for no reason? Or is this what it's all about after all? Who needs the outside world when I can make the three people dearest to me so happy? Maybe my true calling really is to serve them.

By 10am I know it is not. The kids are stir crazy again, but we can't go out until I've prepared lunch. This is the last meal, I remind myself, knowing that my knight in shining armour will swoop in later - having paid for a babysitter - and take me to an actual restaurant to feed me with his hard-earned Euros. Better make sure I look hot.

At dinner I get Marc's take on the experiment. He gamely went along with it, but says he felt like an observer in the lives of his children rather than an active participant. While he admits he loved being cooked for, with his normal tasks (grocery shopping and obsessing over the apartment being tidy) taken care of, he felt a little rudderless after leaving the office.

As he pays the bill (in full - trad wives don't split the tab), and my week-long experiment officially comes to a close, I feel a rush of relief. Not only that it's over, but also that my husband hasn't become a convert. Maybe I'll amend my first rule of feminism to "don't knock it until you've tried it". And now that I have, I know one thing for sure. If my daughter one day expresses an interest in the trad wife life, I will steer her in a different direction.

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I Lived The "Trad Wife" Life For A Week. This Is What It Taught Me

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Monica de La Villardière found herself obsessed by the online "trad wife" trend - distinguished by a return to starkly defined gender roles. So much so that she decided to experiment with the lifestyle herself. Here, she shares her "trad wife" diary in an essay for British Vogue.

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1. Finishing "Barbie the movie"

2. Take notes on how the "barbies" save "Barbieland"

3. and fill in the review for the movie

4. Choose one of the post tasks - homework

5. Flashlight - First semester