Along with stone tools, the Paleolithic led to the gender division of labor. This division ultimately created inequality between men and women, which caused 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 the legal right to work and be independent. Negative attitudes towards women working outside the home transformed in the 1950s. However, many women have been forced to sacrifice family life to maintain the independence afforded them by work. The women in Alice Munro's “Carried Away” and “The Albanian Virgin” attempt to hide their loneliness by promoting their independence through work, sexual adventures, and alienation from society. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay In The Ideal Woman, Jennifer Holt illustrated the stereotypical role of the socially acceptable woman during the 1950s and 1960s and its real effect on women. During World War II, there were strong demands for women in the workforce which gave rise to Rosie the Riveter and feminist movements. However, after the war, employers and society pushed to reclaim the image of domestic women. Having gained a taste of life outside the home, women created the Women's Movement to counter these efforts. Despite the 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 don't behave as the mother and wife portrayed should. Alice Munro's protagonist in “Carried Away”, Louisa, was caged in this concept of the ideal woman. Although she was comfortable with her single status, as soon as Jack initiated contact with her, subtle changes began to manifest. Subconsciously, she felt the need to act according to what she suspected society expected of a wife. She attended a meeting with the women of the city for knitting. Regardless, it was evident that Louisa was aware that she didn't fit in because she held back from revealing her relationship with Jack. She was afraid that “they would laugh at her or pity her, […], of being kind or bold” (Munro 12). She wasn't the kind of woman others suspected of having a romantic relationship with anyone. Jack was her chance to break out of the old maid image. When he took away that option, she looked to Jim for comfort to show that she wasn't alone. Her relationship with Jim wasn't emotionally based like her relationship with Jack. Rather, it was Louisa's way of regaining her confidence and independence. After Jim, she returned to the comforts of her job, regaining her stability and putting aside the image of the ideal woman she was trying to employ. Virginia Pruitt took a psychological approach in her article, Gender Relations: Alice Munro's 'Differently' and "Taken Away." Focusing on the story "Carried Away", Pruitt wrote that Louisa's past relationships allowed her to act against social norms in her relationship with Arthur. Starting with her relationship with Jack, Pruitt demonstrated that despite her independent nature, Louisa longed for the normality that love and a husband would provide. Contrary to what people around her believe, "Louisa could have easily secured a mate if she had chosen to do so [which] is indicatednot only from Jack's fervent romantic interest in her but also from the musings of another man, Jim Frarey, a month or so after Jack disappeared from Louisa's life” (Pruitt 10). Therefore it was neither her beauty nor her ability to seduce a man that prevented her from marrying; it was his independence. However, Arthur entered the picture, unlike Jack and similarly to Louisa, his lifestyle was inclined towards social nonconformity. Rather than continue with his previous relationship as Jack had done, Arthur broke it off to pursue the deep connection that felt towards Louisa. He wasn't scared of her past reputation, but embraced her innovative attitude and proposed to her. Louisa's acceptance indicates her willingness to embark on a "normal life" in which she will gain society's acceptance according to cultural tradition while maintaining her independence. Similarly, Dorota Filipczak addressed the traditional roles of women in her article – Gender and Space in “The Albanian Virgin”. '. Filipczak analyzed Alice Munro's story, “The Albanian Virgin”, which intertwines the lives of two women, Lottar and Claire. Filipczak drew attention to Albanian customs with women being “the product of [their bodies] or [their] hands” (Filipczak 5) and their importance in assigning gender to the spaces they occupy. He also referenced Lottar's new status as a Virgo as his preferred gender. Becoming a virgin "is perhaps the only choice she is allowed to challenge patriarchy by virtue of male approval" (8). Joshua Zumbrun also called attention to the sacrifices he titled this choice in his article The Sacrifices of the 'Sworn Virgins' of Albania. Women who make this choice carry it with pride but not all live without regrets. Sworn virgins take the oath for reasons ranging from escaping an unwanted marriage or to become breadwinner when there are no longer any men to take on the role. Some of them vow to maintain their independence because, as one virgin said, in 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 for women to maintain their independence. Many will take it even if it means they will be alone for the rest of their lives. their life. In "The Albanian Virgin", Lottar took the virgin oath. In her situation, it was a sink or swim choice. Being a stranger welcomed by the tribe, she had no materialistic value or power therefore, as they saw it villagers, the only way she could contribute to the group was to sell her to a Muslim she was unaware of her conundrum while being dressed until the priest presented two choices in front of her: marry a Muslim or become. So, in Lottar's case, the virgin's oath was considered the better of two evils. He was fully aware that, although it would give her independence, it would also alienate her. However, in Claire's case – the parallel character of Struggle – she was fully aware of her path to loneliness when she abandoned Nelson after her husband left her for cheating on him. Lottar and Claire were both running away from a world. they felt the relationship was being forced on them against their will. As a result, both ended up alone. Lottar occupied his time tending the sheep while Claire took care of her bookcase. However, they were both highly aware that their lives were incomplete. Despite their desire for independence, when the opportunity arose, both.