I have a friend who is desperate to be a housewife. She longs to have a lie-in in the mornings and not worry about commutes to work and boring office politics. She looks forward to having shopping and luncheon dates with fellow housewives and her only concern being the care of her husband – granted he has to minted – her dream would be a nightmare if they had to live on benefits.
Somehow my friend’s dreams sounded extremely dull to me. I can’t imagine what would be reason enough for me to be a housewife. Even if I didn’t have to work – I imagine I’d be a full time volunteer for a charity or throw myself in to full time ministry or something. But to just sit at home and iron my husband’s shirts and change diapers and wipe snotty noses is not enough – 24 hours a day is more than enough to do those things and be useful for other things as well.
here comes the WAGS...
I wonder where the modern woman stands on this issue today. I know of a few men who want stay-at-home wives. I can’t pretend I understand the male mentality. Why would a man choose to be the only person working, when he can have support from his wife in meeting the financial needs of the family? Macho crap aside – that is.
I wonder, is it because men don’t want to chip in with other responsibilities as well? Let’s be fair, if we’re both slaving away at business or work all day long, it’s not unreasonable to expect to come home and share the chores of making dinner, sorting out laundry etc. But why is it that men would still expect their wives who work full time to dash home ahead of them, prepare dinner, do the dishes and service them in bed – looking pretty hot and tempting at the same time? ? Come one guys, something’s got to give.
this young lady is making being a house wife look cool. It's ok when you're married to a King in waiting
You may think the concept of being a housewife is rather archaic, but it looks like it’s back in fashion. The life ambition of some school girls is to become WAGS – for those who don’t know what that means, it’s the termed used to refer to wives and girlfriends of professional footballers in theUK. There are also girls who just want to be famous, so reality TV gives them hope they can become celebrities who get paid to do nothing.
So this makes me wonder, what is it about being a housewife that is so attractive? Surely it can’t be the dislike for 9-5 and answering to a boss because the answer to that is owning a business, and the reality is that you’ll always have to answer to someone. Is it just sheer laziness, wanting to bum at home and watch daytime television – which sucks whatever continent you’re on? I don’t get it, please what is so special about being a house wife.
I have a group of friends who look down on people who are housewives (by choice – it’s sad if you are forced to sit a home – but I’ll come to that later) These are the women who manage husbands, juggle children, control high powered jobs and run private businesses on the side. They are the ones that make the rest of us look like mere mortals as they take over the world. One of the super women once told me off for wanting to take a full year’s maternity leave – warning that I only have my youth to build my career and advising that my child would be better off for having a mother who is driven and focused.
Yet again I wonder, how does a house wife feel? I’ve heard many women justify being a housewife aka domestic goddess as being in the best interest of their family, the wax lyrical about how their primary concern is their children and husband and how that’s all the satisfaction they need in life – knowing their family is catered to. I don’t doubt that’s a good thing, but somehow I sense it’s not enough. Surely there’s more to life than the hoover and the dustpan?
Also, something should be said about men who make their partner agree before marriage that they will be housewives. It is a bit extreme to think it’s a form of domestic abuse for a man to force his wife to be a house wife? Is that not an infringement on some human right?
People please enlighten me;
Guys, tell me how you feel about a woman being a housewife – why is it that some men are attracted to independent women as girlfriends but then turn them into housewives?
Ladies, let me know your thoughts, after years of education, internships, kicking off a career – does being a housewife sound like a fab or daft idea?
What a great post! I once asked my husband if he prefer me to stay at home. He said “Heck no! Your dad didn’t spend all that money to put you to school so you can just stay home.” Love my husband.
No offense for those who prefer to stay at home, but it isn’t just for me. If one day I’m rich enough that I don’t have to work (Amien!), I still won’t consider just stay at home. There are a lot of charities that need volunteers or other activity to get my brain and body stimulate. It’s all about choices, no right or wrong -when it’s your decision – but I rather not because I can see myself turn into one of those bitchy middle age lady at any real house wife show on Bravo TV. 
Hi Sendie-Lou, you’re right, it’s a choice, but it’s one I’m struggling to understand – I guess I don’t have to understand everything.
I think the fear of getting dumb and ignorant is what makes me dislike the house wife lifestyle.
You husband sounds like a top dude – not many men think that way – some men only allow their wives to work because of financial difficulties.
By the way amen x 100, to being wealthy enough not to have to go to work.
I think there are so many activities to busy yourself with as a housewive that it is impossibl to become dumb and ignorant. Becoming dumb and ignorant will really be by choice and not automatic… That being said, I’m a professional, married with a 2yr old and I have to say that my new ambition is to become a housewife
. Ok, maybe more of a work from home mom because even as a ‘housewife’, my kids would still have to go to daycare. Being a housewife is a very demanding job (even more demanding than being in the office IMO)…. I really give housewives all the props and it’s too easy to look down on them and wonder what they do but try staying home day in, day out, being with kids while trying to clean up, cook, cater to your hubby and you’ll go back to work immediately! It’s not meant for everyone but I still would love to be one – just as Sendie-Lou mentioned, I can think of so many charity orgs and professional boards that I would be part of while running a side business – the key is I would have the free time to do what I want!
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Is it actually possible to be someone that stays at home with nothing to do? While on maternity leave, it often feels like there is not enough time in the day. What with building an online business from scratch, researching the best skin care tips for sensitive skin (for both adults and children), offer counselling to couples, ministry, cook healthy meals when I am at home, read and play with the little one rather than leave her in front of the tv and deliver presentations in people’s homes to name just a few things…its all hard work. Seriously I think only one image comes to people’s minds when they here the term – ‘housewife’. But I think it is a choice that people should be allowed to make; if that is what someone wants to do then they should go ahead and be the best at it. We are all unique; different things make people people happy.