1. What elements of this story would differ if it were set in the present day, and which would remain the same?

2. How accurate or trustworthy do you believe the mother's perception of her relationship with her daughter is? What leads you to this conclusion?

3. In the 1950s, most married women did not work outside the home. However, the demands of full-time housework and caring for younger children often limited their engagement with their older children, as depicted in "I Stand Here Ironing." How does this situation compare to today, where most married women are employed outside the home?

4. Identify a significant incident in the narrator's relationship with her daughter and explain why you believe it is the most crucial part of the story in defining their relationship.

5. What does the narrator mean when she hopes that Emily will understand that "she is more than this dress on the ironing board, helpless before the iron"? What are Emily's prospects regarding education, employment, marriage, or motherhood?

6. The narrator describes her younger daughter, Susan, as a better student, more attractive, and more popular than Emily. She further implies that Susan, having been raised in a more supportive environment, will inevitably surpass her older half-sister. How reliable is this assessment, and what does it reveal about the mother?