"stereotypical family roles predominate" and " Mama’s place is still in the kitchen, while Papa goes out to work. The birth of a long-awaited son somewhat eclipses the importance of the family’s five energetic, engaging daughters."
I can only say, "So? Who cares?" There's nothing wrong with being a stereotypical family, even if it were true that no other role for women was shown in the books, which it isn't, as others have pointed out in previous comments. And I would say that at the time during which the book occurred (and even today), it was perfectly normal that a man who had only daughters would be jubilant at the birth of a son. Even if it were not still true today, it would be a pretty poor historical story that insisted on imposing present-day attitudes on characters from the past, the more so since that particular present-day attitude, which seems to me to denigrate women who choose to be homemakers, isn't by any means universally held.
"stereotypical family roles predominate" and " Mama’s place is still in the kitchen, while Papa goes out to work. The birth of a long-awaited son somewhat eclipses the importance of the family’s five energetic, engaging daughters."
I can only say, "So? Who cares?" There's nothing wrong with being a stereotypical family, even if it were true that no other role for women was shown in the books, which it isn't, as others have pointed out in previous comments. And I would say that at the time during which the book occurred (and even today), it was perfectly normal that a man who had only daughters would be jubilant at the birth of a son. Even if it were not still true today, it would be a pretty poor historical story that insisted on imposing present-day attitudes on characters from the past, the more so since that particular present-day attitude, which seems to me to denigrate women who choose to be homemakers, isn't by any means universally held.