MY girlfriends and I recently argued the toss about which generation of women had - or has - the best deal in life.

It's a hard one to answer.

Many people would say that today's lifestyle, with all its choices and opportunities, is what many females over the years have striven for.

But I also feel that it has bred a culture of women who feel compelled to have it all, and to do everything well.

The pressure is on to have a perfect career, relationship, friendships, hobbies, children and home life which is practically impossible, yet still we beat ourselves up if we don't achieve it.

I have often wondered if our "beleaguered" grandmothers might have been dealt the best hand.

Although most of them stayed at home doing chores and raising children, they weren't under further obligation to be at the top of their careers and own the latest Gucci handbag.

A recent find, however, has pulled the debate into sharper focus.

Sorting out the contents of my late grandfather's attic, I came upon a book, priced at three shillings, called Getting Married.

Printed nearly 40 years ago, it's a fascinating snapshot of the era.

It was aimed at young brides and contains a heady mixture of information for the 1970s newlywed, plus relevant advertisements.

Amid pictures of cutting- edge products of the time (free-standing dimpled oil heaters, Teasmaids and Wentlebeds) is plenty of advice on everything from recipes to sex. ("Too often, lovemaking can become the last household chore of the day," it reads. "Give it the importance it deserves.

"Instead of having an evening out, have a gala evening in, with lovemaking as the main attraction!").

But in particular my attention was caught by one letter in the agony section which read: "I do a full-time job, shop in my lunch hour, cook, clean, do the washing and ironing in the evening.

"It is I who waits for buses while my husband takes the car. My husband thinks he does the share of the chores when he does the odd bit of wiping up.

"I'm physically tired all the time, and feel pretty resentful about modern marriage."

The reply? "It's quite a good idea to let a husband try his hand at cooking the chicken sometimes."

So while this doesn't answer the question of who had the best deal in life, it has highlighted a generation which didn't exactly have it rosy - those women on the cusp of "liberation" with one foot in the future but held back by attitudes of the past.

It also has highlighted the vast changes in the role of today's menfolk who tend to do their share around the home without question.

So if the brides of today have any gripe with modern culture, the chances are it's nothing to do with how often their hubby gets the dishcloth wet.