Along with stone tools, the Paleolithic era introduced the gendered division of labor. This division ultimately created inequality between men and women, leading to the endless battles women had to fight to regain their birthrights. Little progress had been made before the mid-to-late 1800s; Gradually, women gained their legal rights to work and be their own people. Negative attitudes toward women working outside the home changed in the 1950s. However, many women were forced to sacrifice their family lives to maintain the independence that their work provided. The women in Alice Munro's films "Emportés" and "The Albanian Virgin" try to hide their loneliness by promoting their independence through their work, their sexual adventures and their distance from society. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay In The Ideal Woman, Jennifer Holt illustrated the stereotypical role of the socially acceptable woman in the 1950s and 1960s and its real-world effect on women. During World War II, the demand for women in the workforce was high, giving rise to Rosie the Riveter and the feminist movements. Nevertheless, after the war, employers and society pushed to reclaim the image of female domestic workers. Having acquired a taste for life outside the home, women created the Women's Movement to counter these efforts. Despite the best efforts of the media, women were determined to maintain their financial, social and sexual independence. However, “they were still bound by the oppression of the domestic ideal” (Holt 2). They continue to feel like less of a woman if they do not behave as the depicted mother and wife should. Alice Munro's protagonist in "Eporté", Louisa, was locked into this concept of the ideal woman. Although she was comfortable with her single status, as soon as Jack made contact with her, subtle changes began to show. Subconsciously, she felt the need to act according to what she suspected society expected of a wife. She attended a meeting with the town women to knit. Regardless, it was obvious that Louisa was aware that she didn't fit in because she was refraining from revealing her relationship with Jack. She was afraid that “they would laugh at her or feel sorry for her, […], whether they were nice or cheeky” (Munro 12). She wasn't the type of woman others would suspect of having a romantic relationship with anyone. Jack was her chance to break out of the spinster image. When he took this chance, she sought comfort from Jim to prove that she was not alone. Her relationship with Jim was not based on emotions like hers was with Jack. Rather, it was a way for Louisa to regain her confidence and independence. After Jim, she returned to the comfort of her work, regaining her stability and putting aside the image of the ideal woman she tried to present. Virginia Pruitt took a psychological approach in her article, Gender Relations: Alice Munro's 'Differently'. and “Carried away”. Focusing on the story "Carried Away", Pruitt wrote that Louisa's past relationships allowed her to act against societal norms in her relationship with Arthur. Beginning with her relationship with Jack, Pruitt showed that despite her independent nature, Louisa desired the normalcy that love and a husband would bring her. Contrary to what the people around him think,“Louisa could easily have found a mate if she had chosen him [which] is indicated not only by Jack's fervent romantic interest in her, but also by the musings of another man, Jim Frarey, a month or more . so after Jack disappeared from Louisa’s life” (Pruitt 10). It was therefore not her beauty nor her ability to seduce a man that prevented her from marrying; it was his own independence. Nonetheless, Arthur came into the picture, unlike Jack, and much like Louisa, his lifestyle leaned toward social nonconformity. Rather than continuing his previous relationship like Jack did, Arthur broke it all off to pursue the deep connection he felt towards Louisa. He wasn't scared off by her past reputation, but embraced her innovative attitude and proposed to her. Louisa's acceptance indicates that she is ready to embark on a "normal life" in which she will gain acceptance from society according to cultural tradition while maintaining her independence. Similarly, Dorota Filipczak discussed traditional roles of women in her article – Gender and Space in “The Albanian Virgin”. '. Filipczak analyzed Alice Munro's short story, "The Albanian Virgin", which intertwined the lives of two women, Lottar and Claire. Filipczak drew attention to Albanian customs of women being “the product of [their bodies] or [their] hands” (Filipczak 5) and their importance in assigning gender to the spaces they occupy. She also discussed Lottar's new Virgo status as the gender of choice. Becoming a virgin “is perhaps the only choice she is allowed to defy patriarchy by relying on male approval” (8). Joshua Zumbrun also called attention to the sacrifices this choice titled in his article, The Sacrifices of the “Sworn Virgins” of Albania. Women who make this choice wear it with pride, but not all live without regrets. Sworn virgins take the oath for a variety of reasons, such as to escape an unwanted marriage or to become head of the household when there are no more men to fill that role. Some of them vow to maintain their independence because, as one virgin says, marriage, “even when there is love and harmony, only men have the right to decide.” I want total fairness or nothing" (Zumbrun 2). In a patriarchal society, the virgin oath is the best way women can maintain their independence. Many will take it even if it means they will be on their own for the rest of their lives. In “The Albanian Virgin,” Lottar took the oath of virginity. In her situation, it was a sink or swim choice. As a stranger welcomed by the tribe, she had no value. materialist nor power so, as the villagers saw it, the only way for her to contribute to the group was to sell her to a Muslim Lottar was unaware of her enigma while she was dressed up. until the priest presents herself. Two choices are available to her: marry a Muslim or become a virgin. Thus, in Lottar's case, the oath of virginity is considered the better of the two evils. aware that while this would give her independence, it would also distance her from it. However, in the case of Claire – Lottar's parallel character – she was fully aware of her journey towards loneliness when she left Nelson after her husband left her for cheating. Lottar and Claire were both fleeing an apartment. the relationship they felt was forced upon them against their will. As a result, they both ended up alone. Lottar occupied his time taking care of the sheep while Claire took care of her bookstore. However, they were both.