ABSTRACT
The fact is that in spite of moving into the modern age, in spite of the relatively liberated status of women, the backward tradition of a wife's role remains firmly entrenched in the Hungarian male's psychology. Suddenly "duties" appeared that a wife had to perform, duties that were regarded as "women's work." In addition to her job, she was expected to cook well, sew and wash, do the shopping, clean the apartment, keep herself pretty and desirable for her husband, read and keep up with conversational topics, care for any children, and when the daily chores were done, offer her husband all the sexual pleasures he desired. Even today a Hungarian wife is expected to have certain reactions toward the behavior of her husband. And finally, a wife must owe her husband respect and should not expect him to do household work beneath his dignity.
