The author argues that, in order to succeed in identifying energy needs, it is not sufficient to accurately describe women’s roles but that the emphasis should be on the broader context of the social and power relationships involved in day-to-day activities. She compares and contrasts the domestic responsibilities of two women, one from a middle-class background and one from a low-income group and background, and analyses the manner in which power relationships are generated and balanced. The conclusion discusses the conditions that would be conducive to women relinquishing some of their power and men taking on some of the domestic responsibilities