Why is being a woman raising her family not worth much anymore?

Question

I'm talking about a woman's contribution to society in giving birth to, raising her children, running the household...? Why is that not valued anymore?
The only time you seem to be valued as a woman is when you're out there in the workforce getting the high exec job with the equality of pay and treatment. Feminists spent so long campaigning for the woman to be let out of the house into the workplace (not saying that's a bad thing) -- but what about re-establishing value back into the things that women do for society that has nothign to do with the workforce and career?
Families are the cornerstones of society -- isn't that valued anymore?

EDIT -- I am not a stay at home mum nor do I want to be. However, I'm not full time either. But I do believe my family is more important, and having kids younger than average just makes me surrounded by people who only think about advancing their careers and that family is something only idiots (like me lol) do.

Answer 1

I'm certainly not a Feminist, but part of the problem I believe is that people in general don't value the family ideals anymore. We have lost our values, our morals, and sadly God is not the source that most seek. I'm not trying to put my views on anyone else, so please don't take offense. God should come first in the home , with values and morals the family will once again recognize that each member has an important part, Father and Mother..........

Answer 2

I thought that the purpose of feminists was to give women a choice.
I think as a society the woman at home raising her family has been undervalued because it started off the woman being able to work outside of the home so everyone did that, the next stage was women wanted it all ( which is okay if thats what they want) and their daughters saw or were taught this so society continued this. Now as people want the new up to date items often and the cost of living in general, in many families its too expensive for only the one person to work or if you are on your own, you struggle.

I have heard reports and read articles that people are starting to believe that maybe it is too much for the woman to do it all therefore as with anything the tide will turn and both options will become valued and i believe more and more men are becoming the carers and homemakers.

It just takes more people like yourself to stand up and say we are valuable members of society.

Answer 3

Who says raising children and running a household is not valued? I don't, nor do any of the people I know. Whether a woman works outside her home or not, caring for her family is still highly valued.

There have always been women who have done more than clean house, cook meals, and tend to children. This is not a new thing. Two of my aunts worked in factories during WWII, and then continued on after the War. One of my grandmothers was a teacher and had 3 kids. My other grandmother raised 4 children and also tended a small herd of cattle while her husband worked at a steel mill. Two of my great-grandmothers worked on farms in addition to caring for their children and extended families. One of my great-great grandmothers worked in the family store.

I believe that it is a myth that in the good ole days all women stayed home.

Answer 4

It depends on where you are looking for validation. There are many women who are choosing to live on just the husbands, or just the wives income and being home full time to be with the children and make a creative home life.

Dollarstretcher.com and Livingonadime.com are two of my favorite websites. They have many articles celebrating peoples' attempts to go back to family nurturing values and lifestyles.

The mainstream media will not give validation to family first stories, but the stories are out there. I even read a website called SimpleSaving.com.au. It's a huge website on your topic in Australia! It's awesome. It's all about stretching the money through creativity and thrifty money wisdom so a woman can afford to make her home her priority. ......I'm getting tired or I'd go on and on. This is one of my favorite topics!!

My last thought is this. I feel society pushed women to try to have it all, saying that she should have it all. The truth is though, that most of us can't have it all, we have to choose what is most important to us. For me that has always been to put my family in its proper place of importance. My children were always more important than my job or money. They are our future and they only grow up once. I had a difficult childhood that I spent much of my adult efforts/energy on recovering from it. I don't want that for my children, and thank God, they seem to be pretty healthy young adults!

Answer 5

The answer is simple, after ww1 and ww2. the family environment was destroyed because women had to go to the work place to survive. the men where messed up from war, leaving the children of the 60s with no values raising more children with no values. Right now the United States has plenty of great women, but they are not the ones you will meet at the clubs or on the streets. usually the damaged girls are the ones you will come across and they are single for a reason.

Answer 6

I think it is valued, and that more and more women WANT to stay home with their children these days instead of climbing the corporate ladder.

Unfortunately, it takes two incomes to survive with many families, so it is almost impossible to have a mother at home for more than the time allotted for maternity leave.

There is still this stigma, however, that any time at home isn't work - it's being lazy.
Soccer mom, PTA mom, all of these labels now have negative connotations for women who simply want (and can afford) to spend time with their children. Men AND women berate them for nothing burning the candle at both ends, and then come on forums such as these complaining that they didn't know what their child was into drugs or whatever.

It's all about respecting each other, regardless of occupation.

Answer 7

I agree with you, housewives tend to be looked down upon when it is a very demanding job to do. I personally am now married and work full time, and we don't have any intention of being parents. However, my mum gave up her job when she had me and became a stay-at-home mum. She did a fantastic job and I thoroughly appreciate and respect her for that. Some working mothers do that sometimes because they have no choice, and they should equally be respected, but also, as you say, a woman raising her family should be a valued part of society not someone to look down on. The only exception to that rule, in my eyes, are the ones who purposely scrounge off the state and pop out loads of kids so that they can get bigger and better houses for the tax payers to fund.

Answer 8

You use the word "anymore"--however, I don't think there has ever been a time where the role of the mother has been accurately respected. The perfect stereotype of a fifties housewife was a woman who was assumed to have no further desires or abilities beyond that role.

You say that "the only time you seem to be valued as a woman is when you're...getting the high exec job." I'd say that's debatable--many women might feel that a high executive job is the place they feel least like a woman, and least as a valued woman--more like they have attained that position in spite of their gender, instead of because/regardless of it.

It's not easy to be a mother, today or fifty years ago or a hundred years ago. However, mothers have huge references at their fingertips, unlike in times before. Mothers have cars, parenting magazines, websites, forums, phones, appliances, and mass-made toys that can help them transport, understand, and entertain their children. Mothers handle a huge amount of responsibility, especially those who take on a job outside the home as well. Undoubtedly, it is a job that only a woman could possibly do.

As a young woman raised with two sisters by a working woman who lost her own mother far too early, I personally know the value of a woman. It is by our own examples that we can prove to the world how strong we are. It is our own responsibility to teach by example the value of a strong matriarch.

Answer 9

I know how you feel. I'm a SAHM. People don't value what I do. I think they believe we are all lazy and that's why we are at home. I think one of the reasons why my kids are well behaved, respectful and generally nice kids is that I am at home . I'm here to keep everything in check. Unlike some working, money driven, LandRover, counrty club, parents that aren't home until 6pm and who knows what their kids are doing or where they are. They should walk a day in our shoes. This debate will go on forever. In the end I know I made the right choice to be with my kids. Society will thank me later..I hope..

Answer 10

I think it has allot to do with the image that women that stay at home have portrayed. 50 or 60 years ago women did allot of work in the home. Cooking, cleaning, laundry and raising children were allot of work when you have a wood stove, wash bucket, out door plumbing etc. Stay at home moms and dads today don't have as much to do. My wife stayed at home with the kids while they were under 5, but once they started school she got bored and found a job and is making a career of it. The value of having a family member at home with the kids to raise them and take care of them is priceless. I have seen children that were raised by day cares or baby sitters and our children behave so much better then they do. I wouldn't trade that for all the money in the world.

Answer 11

It has the value you and your spouse place upon it. If that is what you choose GREAT.

Back when I was 19 my best friend got married - she immediately lost her job cause her employer felt married women should not be employed. Her employer made decisions FOR her and her husband. What did getting married have to do with her ability as a worker? Her employer HOWLED when she collected umemployment! This is where my focus into feminism began.

We did raise wonderful young men who are a great benefit to society- with BOTH of us working. ITS NOT EITHER OR.