This paper focuses on the domestic world of home and family life as it examines important factors that bear on the use of television and video by women. Based on interviews with women of different ages, economic status, educational backgrounds, family circumstances, and general social environments, the paper describes the following feminine reactions to television and video viewing: (1) women feel alienated from the video recorder and rely on their male partner or children to operate it; (2) the adult male and children, but not the woman, generally have their own tapes which they can use in any way they wish; (3) women are often doing something else at the same time as viewing, e.g., knitting, sewing, ironing, reading; (4) with the exception of their favorite programs, women feel that watching television is a waste of time and that they could be doing something more useful; (5) women resent the fact that the television goes on as soon as the family comes home; (6) if there is a conflict over what is to be watched, women may use a portable television in another room; and (7) there are various viewing contexts which create sets of expectations and contribute/detract from the pleasures of different viewers. (10 end notes) (CGD)