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In a long editorial marking International Women's Day, Vatican's official newspaper 'L'Osservatore Romano' pronounced the washing machine more important for the liberation of women than the pill as it had freed generations from the drudgery of household chores.
"The washing machine and the emancipation of women: put in the powder, close the lid and relax," reads the article headline, above a black and white picture of two women in the 1950s admiring a front-loading machine.
"In the 20th century, what contributed most to the emancipation of western women? The debate is still open. Some say it was the pill, others the liberalisation of abortion, or being able to work outside the home. Others go even further: the washing machine," 'The Daily Telegraph' quoted the article as saying.
The first rudimentary washing machines appeared as far back as 1767, noted the article, with the first electrical models being produced at the beginning of the 20th century.
The eulogy to a domestic convenience which most women in developed countries now take for granted quoted the words of late American feminist Betty Friedan, who in 1963 described "the sublime mystique to being able to change the bed sheets twice a week instead of once".
While early models were expensive and unreliable, technology had improved to the point that there is now "the image of the super woman, smiling, made-up and radiant among the appliances of her house," the Vatican newspaper said.
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Sirs, As a matter of fact,the liberation of women have started with ,the gas connections,Pressure cookers,grinding machines etc.Washing machines joined later in the campaign.The latest being the micro wave ovens intoduction.All these gadgets did more miracles to relieve the women toiling within the four walls of the kitchen than the women libs and other political reservation schemes.But unfortunately the advent of clubs,pubs,the dancing bars and the latest mega TV shows have chained the liberatated women in the different four walls.We hope the true and permanent liberation would come both to the men and women through the spread of learning the rich and cultured literature that are old as well as new available in all languages and in all parts of the world. seshachalam gopalakrishnan chennai 10 th march