Some women are not satisfied being a housewife. Some career women aren"t satisfied with their lifestyle either and might rather be a housewife. I disagree with Lawrence when he says "The cock, who is never so sure anything as the hen is about the egg she has laid." Again Lawrence is telling us that a woman having kids and raising a family is more self-assured and fulfilled than a career woman. I think many people are just as fulfilled as the happiest housewife who are living much different lifestyles. Lawrence believes that this fulfillment of a mother as compared to a career woman becomes very apparent in the later stages of life. "So we have the tragedy of a cocksure woman. They find, so often, that instead of having laid an egg, they have laid a vote, or an empty ink bottle, or some other absolutely unhatchable object, which means nothing to them." Lawrence is under the impression that cocksure women are lonely after they have had their career and are now retired. They have nothing to reflect on and be proud of. Once again I disagree. Some career women impact lives by the things the do. For example: a writer, politician, or a doctor. All can effect many lives and be proud of the things they have accomplished. They can also have a partner/husband and perhaps in some cases children as well. Wow would that idea dumfound Lawrence. Women are very capable and could have a family and a career. It would be difficult but is possible. This woman doesn"t fit into either of Lawrence's strict opposite types of a woman.
So where do the men fit into all of this? Naturally the men are cocksure and Lawrence tells us this when he says, "The cockerel is, naturally, cocksure. He marches to the door of the hen house and pokes out his head assertively "Ah ha! Daylight, of course, just as I said"-and he majestically steps down the chicken ladder toward the terra firma, knowing the hens will step cautiously after him, drawn by his confidence.