Why do many women find being a ''housewife'' to be degrading? Afterall what is wrong in being a housewife?

Question

Only difference is she is busy at home instead of being busy at office/company/shop etc.I personally know many women without a job in their lives and they didn't complain.

Answer 1

My wife was a stay at home mom. She did nothing to contribute to the family except, nursed us ALL back to health when sick, schooled our children when we felt that the public school was too dangerous, kept my job for me by waking me up, feeding me, yes even at 0300 in the morning, (I would sleep through alarm clocks), she was the primary cook, the chauffeur for the kids, the house cleaner & maid, basically nothing but the ROCK of the family. Now the kids are gone, I no longer work, and she is still the rock of the family, she's my best friend, my lover, EVERYTHING to me all in one, what did she acomplish? three drug free, hard working, TAX PAYING adults, that will always be thankfull she stayed at home to be the ROCK of our family.
Also these boys that she raised admire and respect women.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

You have to think of recent history -- up until the 60s, it was common place for women to NOT have the option of choice. It wasn't that long ago that it was a very brave statement for a woman to say "I want an education and I want a career" -- and not be castigated for it. A woman's social value was entirely derived from her role as a housewife -- this is what is degrading.

(Case in point: my father and uncle went to university and became doctors. My aunt was not allowed to go -- even though my grandfather said she was the smartest of them all.)

But ideally, women and men should have equal options, and equal value. Being a housewife should be no more degrading than being a HOUSE HUSBAND. And women in the workforce should earn the same as men -- not 70% of what men make. Equal work, equal pay.

I also think stay-at-home moms and dads should be compensated for their work -- it's a job, it has real social and economic value. It's arguably the most important work in our society -- taking care of our young. The problem with market capitalism is that if it doesn't pass through the market, our economy doesn't recognize it as having value.

This is another reason why some mistakenly find 'housewife' to be degrading. Because there is no recognized economic value, and so social status is somewhat confused.

Answer 4

Donegal Rose, I think you are the type of person this question was directed at. Why is it "low" to be a housewife? Why must you put others down for doing something you don't want to do? So what if your foremothers were able to do as you say they did, that doesn't make them, or you, better then the lady that decides the best thing for her and her family is for her to stay home and be a stay at home mother and housewife.

The only thing degrading about being a housewife and SAHM is if the woman is forced to do it(by culture or husband) and not given the chance to choose to be either a working mom or stay at home mom.

Answer 5

I think the problem is in the nomenclature. "Housewife" has the connotation of some pudgy woman being in a robe and slippers and hair curlers all day watching soap operas. If the term were "home executive," it would go over better. Check out www.flylady.net. She'll let you know point blank that women who manage a home aren't to be dissed. I can't recommend that site highly enough. I don't have kids, but she's helped me so much.

Answer 6

I don't think being a housewife is degrading. I just think it's boring to me, since I can live in a shack, so I don't want to do it. I"d go crazy not doing paid or unpaid work outside my home. But I know some people love it, and are great caretakers. Thank goodness some people want to bring up kids!

Who says it's degrading? I think being a stripper is a bit unsavory, but being a housewife?

Answer 7

I don't find one darn thing degrading about being a housewife; I'm a fulltime homemaker who works seasonally in the agricultural industry. There's nothing I enjoy more than "nesting" (making my home beautiful and functional) and gardening my two acres. I also enjoy cooking and prepare a homemade dinner nightly. And when my daughter was young, I was always able to be there for her.
The worst thing about being a housewife is that the pay absolutely sucks. Unless we've worked X amount of hours on someone else's payroll, we're not even eligible to collect our own Social Security. In many progressive European nations, being a homemaker actually counts as WORK! This is very indicative of the American prejudice against housewives, as if what we do "doesn't count".

Answer 8

There is nothing degrading about being a housewive. I have a cousin who is an MD, she married another MD and they're financially doing great...they now have 4 children so she chose to stay at home and take care of the children because she didn't want nannies to raise her kids.

The problem is when someone thinks being a housewife is a woman's job. If she does it because she chooses to, more power to her- nothing a woman does is degrading...everybody has a free choice and who are we to judge?

Answer 9

I believe feminism, like all movements which gain much over due support and finally begin to be accepted that the equality of women required them to essentially shed the skin of their former selves. So, in this manner ANYTHING which was formerly associated with women is condemned- if even subconsciously -as being against the progression of women's rights.
I personally believe that either gender's active role in child care is a wonderful quality and instills the building blocks of humanity in children. A heartfelt good job to all housewives and stay at home dads who are raising their children all day... everyday.

Answer 10

So are you saying that a person who makes a personal choice to care for their family (as opposed to inept daycare and hiring a maid/cook) is degrading, but to go and take care of someone else's family or other work, get paid, and then come home to take care of your own family (and not have the energy/time to do it) is not? It is degrading if the husband comes home and does absolutely nothing. And there are situations that are reverse (so do not be gender discriminatory!) But mature people who make this kind of decision work out a schedule for the sake of the family. They should do things to keep up skills that may be useful if needed to go back to the work force. I think you are being much to general in your assessment.

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Answer 11

I don't think there is anything degradig about being a housewife, in fact, is probably harder to take care of children and the household and everything else than it is to have a job. I personally would prefer to have a carrer than be a housewife, but that is MY priority, and I see nothing wrong with women that decide not to have carrer in order to devote all their time to being a wife and/or a mother. I do, however, feel is wrong for other women to critize them for their decision, after all, isn't the whole point of femenism that women get to make their own decisions about what they want to do with their life???