What do you think about "House Husbands"?

Question

How do you think our society would change, if House Husbands would suddenly become a norm? What adjustments might be necessary in the cultural patterns—psychological, social, economical, and political—in order for our society to continue orderly?

Answer 1

I don't think can physically, emotionally, or mentally can handle the role of being the mother. We all know that women are better at multitasking then men. Men are like computers. Their great when they are doing one thing at a time, but they begin to slow down when burdened with extra work. The concept is a noble one, but it is sadly and unfortunately unrealistic.

Answer 2

I have a "house husband"-or "nest-cock" in ancient terms.
I adore it. He adores it.
He is home all day, he does all the errands, pays all the bills, dishes, cooks, and shops, walks the dogs.
When I get home from work, I mow the grass some days, and watch TV. I eat and help clean up. We talk, and snuggle, and garden. Watch the birds. Play scrabble and chess. I sew and wirite and he writes, and practices speeches.
He has been retired for 2 years and we are so happy.
He got a full-time job recently, and I hated that he was gone, and that there was no one home with me in the evening. I hated eating alone, and having to do all the chores. He was working 80+ hours a week to pay off a debt.
Now he is back home again.
Now, if we had small children, I would still rather do it this way, because he is more patient, and more "kid-proof" than I am. But,then, I don't make enough money to support a whole houseful of people.
First, Women would have to make more money. Men and women would both have to honor/validate staying home and raising kids.
When my kids were little, both of us worked full-time and I loved working, but I missed taking care of my kids. I missed them, and had to juggle for school trips and plays, etc.
I felt I didn't have a private life for 20 years.
I need a private life.

Answer 3

My husband and I are both graduate students, but I work more hours than he does. As a result, our daughter is only in day care part-time, and he is a "houseband (I LOVE that word!)" 3 days a week.

Honestly, in many ways he's more domestic than I am. He doesn't get as frustrated as I do from running after our toddler - he seems to have infinite patience.

I'd think that most of the changes would need to be social. People still give him funny looks and are surprised to see him out running errands with a baby. The pediatrician has been very insulting, asking questions like, "What does her mother feed her?" (As if he does not/is incapable of feeding our daughter!)

Answer 4

First, I would definitely begin with two wrongs do not make a right. Housewife is a negative term, as is house husband. Second, I worked for a woman who did a major study on this. She interviewed about 70 families in which the father stayed home to raise the children. There were very few problems, other than how they were perceived by others (as one brillant answerer notes through his *coughs*--men who stay home are p-ussies). Men who stay home can never be a feasible option as long as men continue to earn more than do women (women earn 77 cents to a man's dollar). And, as several men on here have commented, they make more money, so they work--and several woman have said they wished their husbands could stay home, but these men make more money. How can anyone suggest that women and men are treated equally, when questions like this prove that women are not paid equally? And if you're not paid equally, you're not treated equally. Period.

Answer 5

I wish I made enough money for my sweetie to be a “House Husband”! He’s great at cooking, and it would be great to come home to a nice cooked meal.

As far as societal change, I think we would have less soap opera watching (I don’t know any men who watch them) and the ratings would go up on ESPN, FoxNews, etc. instead.

Maybe guys would spend more time in the parks? Every guy I know when they get laid off go run in the park, go fishing, and other active things like that.

Also, if women were the chief breadwinners, maybe there would be an increase in consumer spending in that we’d have more money to spend on things.

However, all those ideas are based on stereotypes and people I know personally, so I don’t know if that bears any real weight.

Answer 6

I know quite a few house hubbies......they can't become the norm.....they are not wired like women.....they can do a great job but they can't be a mom...

all of our cultural patterns have to do with acquisition....money power sex......this will not change because my husband is home fighting with the washer and not me......


Mike D. Moron

surprisingly enough DUCK the men at home that I know could put a hurting on a line backer and change a diaper...

Answer 7

I don't mind the concept, as long as househusbands (and wives) still have some money of their very own, be it earned or inherited. Were it to become the norm, women would take over the rest of the world. What a day that would be!

Answer 8

i love my houseband :)
but he doesn't like being one, so he's going to get a job. at least it will work out well for when i have our baby & take temporary parental leave from work. after that, he said he may consider staying home with the baby... which would be great! because i make 1/3 more than he does (my college degrees v his GED)

Answer 9

I'd love to be a house husband.
But that will never happen, as I make so much more then my wife, and we couldnt afford to take the pay cut.

Answer 10

The same thing I think about housewives - I can't relate to them. I need to accomplish something other than child-rearing and housework to feel good about myself. I want to have children and all, and I do think it takes a smart and disciplined person to raise children WELL, but i need more from life - I need to have a life interacting with adults too.