Why is being a housewife considered less work than a woman who works a regular job?

Question

I have so much respect for housewives, especially the ones with more than one child. My wife and I for example, have 2 little boys and a baby girl...All three are not even old enough to be in school yet. I work 2 (40 hour) jobs so my contribution at home is very little unfortunately. I see what she goes thru, it's hell, but she does it...(feed the kids, clean the house, constantly pick up after the kids, break up fights, pay the bills, wash clothes, etc etc etc, nonstop). There are no two 15-minute breaks and 1/2 hr lunch for her...she eats on the fly... I can honestly say that she works harder than me even with my 80 hour work weeks. So where do people get off thinking they work less, or that it's less important? Maybe it's just me but i have lots of respect for wives that choose to stay home and raise kids....it's WORK!

Answer 1

i don't see any difference in it i wish my husband thought the same way you do i am a housewife and even though i do all the housework etc. he complains about me not doing enough but he don't do anything except work 48 hours a week and i am tired of people saying that i am lazy because i don't have a 40 hr a week job

Answer 2

I must disagree. I was a housewife for six years and returned to the workforce this summer. Working is much harder. As a housewife, I could organize my time most efficiently and accomplish everything I needed to do and still have time left over to relax. If I was tired, I could sleep in or nap or just choose to slack off to an extent. Now, I have to squeeze chores, cooking dinner, cleaning etc into a few short hours after work every night. I have no free time at all, and am constantly deprived of sleep (averaging 5-6 hours most night). I end up bringing work home at night because there's so much to do. Even with my husband pitching in we can't keep up with the housework. Our eating habits have gone to heck because I don't have time for grocery shopping and cooking like I used to. I've gained weight because I can no longer spend 90 minutes daily exercising.

Being a housewife is easy compared to real work. We've discussed my quitting my job since it would make our lives easier, but my salary contribution means we can retire and quit working altogether much faster, so I'm hanging in there.

Of course, this assumes you have a challenging job. Working as a cashier is probably easier than being a housewife, but trying to be a professional and keep up with constant developments is challenging. I do enjoy the intellectual challenge, which is what I missed the most as a housewife. When you're a housewife, you can just turn your brain off. That's not possible in the workforce. That's a big part of why I prefer working, even though it's harder. I wouldn't mind being part time though, and having the best of both worlds.

Answer 3

My husband works full time days and I work full time nights (I'm suppose to be part time, but we're extremely short handed) and since I make considerably less than he does, then he feels I should be able to get more done at home during the day. We also have three children together and the youngest isn't anywhere near ready for school yet.

There are those people out there (like my husband) that feel if a person isn't earning a paycheck (or is working for barely over minimum wage), then they're not contributing anything to the household. These are the same people who don't understand being a stay-at-home parent is an ongoing job without any financial compensation, no sick days, no vacation time, no benefits such as insurance, 401K, retirement . . . nothing.

Some advantages to being a stay-at-home-parent are no child care costs, being able to always be there for your family, knowing that your children are being raised the way you want and are being properly taken care of at all times.

The people that insist on condemning the parents that have made the difficult decision to stay home need to grow up and look at the bigger picture . . . nothing is ever black and white.

Answer 4

Because Hillary Clinton said so.........

Honestly, it's not. A genuine housewife is the most difficult job there is. There are many women, and even some men, who claim they are housewives, or stay at home dads, but don't do squat all day and one look at the house, the children, and the bank account says it all.

maintaining the upkeep of a family requires assistance from all the able-bodied members of the household if the family is going to function as a healthy unit. The housewife is essentially the family manager in all it's functions. It's a 24 hour a day job and one that is underrated and not thanked for nearly enough by those who benefit the most from the labors of the housewife.

I am the primary bread winner in my household: however, my wife works too. But I am also the main house servant in my house, as the busiest time of the day for me is when I return home from work to do dishes, clothes, bills, help with homework. We all share the chores in varying degree, but if my wife or I were to quit working, we would still need the help of the other and children to do what needs to be done in the home.
I have nothing but respect for a housewife or even a stay at home dad, who's got it together and can keep it all going for their family.

Answer 5

It is partly because many feminists have the notion that if you're working but not earning, you're worth less. They're indirectly implying that the choice to stay at home is wrong. It is hypocritical of them to promote choice for women and say a choice to do something is wrong or not as important as the other choice. And partly because, well, feminists have succeeded in convincing the western woman that the term 'housewife' should be associated with an abusive, traditional relationship where the woman is a robot to carry out the man's wishes. My mother's a housewife, and things couldn't be more different than what the feminists imply. I tell many feminists here that competing with men and proving yourself equal isn't necessary. Working with men is more acceptable, and very welcome indeed. We already consider you equal. We're equal and different, and feminists seek gender neutrality instead of gender equality.

Answer 6

I agree, I am a stay home mum as well and know exactly what your saying!!!! No sick days, No pay for over time like teething, nightmares or the flu!!!
I had my 1st daughter straight after I left school and people always say Ive never had a REAL job!!! I have 3 now and feel like Ive worked non stop my whole life with out one single day off or holiday. I'm not complaining, I wouldn't have it any other way...Your wife is a very lucky lady to have a husband who is so supportive and understanding and for that matter so am I. My husband is wonderful !!! :) :) :)

Answer 7

I agree with you. Housewifes are considered less work but this is not true. I believe that they work ever harder than women who work a regular job by working all day and night in the same environment and not get any salary (appreciation).

Answer 8

Thank you and please explain that to the rest of the world! I am a stay at home mom with two kids, a dog, and five cats. My husband is a paramedic so he is gone for over 24 hours at a time and works for over 80 hours a week! When he is home he is busy running 13 internet websites and two at home businesses. He is in school full time working on his masters degree in history as well. I am also a full time senior in college, I take my classes online, and I make straight A's. I do all of this with no help at all from anyone, ever. If one more person asks me what I do with all my free time, since I don't have a "job", I am going to screammmmmmmmmmmm!!!!

Answer 9

1 you can choose what you do when and IF you do it

2 you really only have a lot of work when the children are small

3. There are lots of tools to make housework eazy

4. no competition

5. few or no pressure

6. if you get fired you still get payed.

its not even work. Women quit telling us how Hard housework is. Unless you live in a mansion and need to clean each room day its not work. Next thing is parents beeing charged for child labor because they make their children tidy up the room empty the thrash can mop the kitchen or empty the dish washer.

Answer 10

Because women who work outside also have to do housewife work when they come back home. They must struggle the 2 roles at the same time, that's why they're considered more work. Just what I observed from my mother.