What kind of figurative language does Harper Lee use in the following description? What does this description suggest about the role of women in Maycomb?

There is a simile in it,

"and by nightfall were like soft teacakes with frosting of sweat and sweet talcum."

This suggests that women's roles, at least if the famlly had money, were to basically stay home and not do much.

"Ladies bathes before noon, after their three-o'clock naps, and by nightfall were like soft teacakes with frosting of sweat and sweet talcum"

what does this description suggest about the role of the women in Maycomb?