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Why is being a house wife so frowned upon now then it was back 50 years ago?

Answered 5 years ago


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ANSWER
5 years ago
So many reasons, the introduction of a social security system and the stigma that goes with receiving government help, feminists, increased costs of living, contributing to society. All of that is more important than raising your kids apparently.

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5 years ago
Oh but don’t forget when you do work and contribute you are a bad mother, and what about the house!!! Shock horror and outrage follow!

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5 years ago
I hate the assumption that if you’re a SAHM you’re collecting Centrelink benefits.. I’ve been a SAHM for 8 years and I’ve received $0 from the government.

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5 years ago
Feminism is a joke these days. It’s supposed to be about choice whether it be to work outside the home or be SAHM. These days seem to be damned if you do damned if you don’t and commonsense seems to have gone out the window

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5 years ago
As if You don’t collect FTB

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5 years ago
^ there you go with assumptions. Not everyone collects FTB.

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5 years ago
No need to clean everyday if your kids aren’t home
Get a job scrounger

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5 years ago
As if your partner earns more than $90k

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5 years ago
Well over $90k. Not everyone needs government assistance. Not sure why you find that so incredulous.

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5 years ago
Yet most of us manage to work and raise our kids🤷 and yeah, paying the bills is kind of important

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5 years ago
Isn't the average wage around $85k. If was working full time I'd be on about $95k

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5 years ago
We are on$200k +

ANSWER
5 years ago
Thanks for this post. I admire mum's who are sahm. And so jealous at the same time. I'm breaking apart from trying to juggle it all. I work 3 days, have 2 special needs teens and a toddler and my extended family all have various medical issues and also need support. My teenagers have so many medical apts it's all I do on my days off as well as deal with their day to day issues and my lil one gets play group once a week. There is no me time except late at night when I watch a half hr show then go on my phone in bed when I should be sleeping. My house is always messy and disorganised and people think I don't care but I cry about it every day. I never get time to finish projects, help as much with hwk as I should, bake or put love into our dinners. I feel like I'm drowning trying to do it all. On the few times I've had a few days off work in a row, my house suddenly starts to come together, I spend time catching up on tasks, do a budget, meal plan, cook properly, take the dog for walks and do puzzles and colouring in and play with my lil one on top of all the daily stuff. Get more sleep see friends do therapy with my big kids. I feel so happy. Then back to work and it all falls apart again. It's too much for me doing both if we could afford it being a sahm would benefit every single one of my family. I'm not saying that for everyone, some women are superwomen but for me it's too much. And if I hear one more person ask me how many days I work a week and when I answer 3, they say 'oh never mind, you'll find something else soon that's fulltime', or 'wow that's good you must have so much extra time on your hands!', I really honestly think I might crack and punch them in the face lol!!! Kidding (so not kidding!)

ANSWER
5 years ago
Because now we're expected to do everything
We're getting fucked on this deal girls.

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REPLY
5 years ago
I agree 100%

ANSWER
5 years ago
dumb question
Fuck off

ANSWER
5 years ago
I think it is very unfair.
And I think society is the poorer for it.
Who do people think helps run the tuckshop, (often at short notice), runs the book club for pre-school, manages the schools Facebook page, puts together the Lego for the robotics lessons, helps out in the classroom informally, take active roles in the P&C. Etc, etc .....
Teachers and school staff are run off their feet.

When I was a SAHM it was an army of us who ran all the fundraising efforts for school galas, including accepting, storing, sorting and pricing donations, making stacks of kids clothes out of left-over fabric, and overalls for tots out of mens suits, potted lots of plants, cooked cakes until we were exhausted, and manned the sales stalls. And then counted all the money.

When I was teaching I had a group of SAHMs who turned small books into big A3 ones that were ideal for reading to a group of first years, so every child could see the words and pictures.

There was a lot of active parent participation in school, and we didn't have parents attacking and abusing teachers. Possibly because of the sense of ownership.

ANSWER
5 years ago
I think we seem to pride ourselves on being busy and getting so much done these days.
So being at home while the children at school means a heap of down time when you could be doing something more "productive".
Plus what is seen as being financially comfortable now, means you need a lot more money than you use to.
Not having a go at anyone or their choices, it's just my opinion.
And also as mothers we are able to outsource and do many things faster and easier.
For example, I can remember my Mum paying bills at the post office, where as I pay them online. Or we can have groceries delivered, instead of needing to go in and select all the items ourselves.

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REPLY
5 years ago
I’m a SAHM with school age kids. While I do obviously have more downtime than working mums, I don’t spend a lot of time doing nothing. I always find something to do, around the house, or in the garden. (I also don’t have my groceries delivered...... but I do pay my bills online lol). Both my children have special needs that require regular appointments during school hours that I need to run them to, which would be difficult if I was working so I’m very glad I have the time to take them. I’m also very grateful I can attend all the school events, which many working parents cannot. (Before anyone gets on their high horse, I’m not judging working mums on that). I also do some volunteer work, which I was unable to do while working, so I’m glad I can give back something to my local community. The assumption that SAHM with kids at school means doing nothing really bugs me. While this is true for some, it certainly isn’t for or all. It’s very possible to be a productive SAHM.

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5 years ago
I wasn't saying you do nothing. I was saying your days would generally be less rushed, stressful and busy than a working Mum. I see this as a good thing.
My point was we seem to admire people who are busy as they are seen to achieve more. And those that lead a slower paced life are labeled lazy and we feel the right to question "what they do all day", which is really unfair.
I have been a SAHM for 5 years and would love to stay off work indefinitely, but we are still renting and will only qualify for a mortgage once we are a two income family.

ANSWER
5 years ago
Agree! Is annoying

ANSWER
5 years ago
I think it has changed because houses are so much more expensive - my parents bought their first house for $14000 in the early seventies and one income was $9000. So one income was completely doable.
When we bought out first house in 2004, it was $300000 and I was earning about $40000 a year - in the same job my mum has been doing in the seventies. So her income paid off the house in two years but mine had no chance.

ANSWER
5 years ago
honestly? Because house work is boring

ANSWER
5 years ago
Times have changed I guess. Women would often go straight from school to a menial job until they found a husband. That was the goal of women. Marry, breed, keep house. Expectations have changed. We are now supposed to still do that plus have a job.

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5 years ago
Be

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5 years ago
Yes that part is sad. We do that PLUs have a job. I think this is the norm for most women, yes above there was an extreme example, but generally I know among my friends this is the reality

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5 years ago
This is why it's so important to raise the next generation to be equal partners, don't let them see it as normal.

ANSWER
5 years ago
I don't know. I've been a housewife for 10 years this year, even before we had kids. Basically as soon as we bought a house, I was the homemaker (yeah I realise we did that a bit backwards, probably both should have worked until we'd at least paid the mortgage down a bit more).
I treat it like a career.
When I explain to people how I treat it like an outside job, they usually come down off their high horse and back off a bit. Do you think my husbands career would have flourished so much if I wasn't supporting him behind the scenes? Fuck no, I'm the wind beneath his goddamn wings.

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5 years ago
You go girl. This was/is my attitude too. Husband works away in a job he loves. Comes home and we have quality time together that would not happen if I worked. He did suggest I get a job once and I said sure thing no problem but when I do you need to quit your job and get local one so you can share 50-50 childcare and household chores. No way in hell am I working full-time and doing all the extra.

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5 years ago
Why can’t he support your dream ?
We aren’t lower than our husbands and when husband has an affair we stay cause we have fuck all super and no job skills and if he leaves we are homeless cause we dependent on our husband to provide for us till death did us apart

I tell the girls in my family don’t depended on a man to look after you
Get a job and put money away for a rainy day

REPLY
5 years ago
Maybe she's living her dream and her husband works so she can

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5 years ago
I love your response, you are his support and no way would he be where he is without you.

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5 years ago
If husband dies young or leaves or has an affair or is abusing her will she stay with a cheating husband or an abuser ?
She will not have a comfy life on the dole and no one will employ her unless she does a course

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5 years ago
Thanks for your concern, and to those who have responded positively.
Raising my family and being a housewife was not my dream growing up. But, I do enjoy this very much. Turns out I'm actually very nurturing.
My husband could do any of the above and no, I don't think I'd stay with him. Even if it meant being uncomfortable on the dole, or in a low paying job, or moving back in with my mother. But, I don't think it would be that way. Being a housewife doesn't mean all I do is play stepford wife all day. It's possible to study online, and even re enter the workforce successfully. I've kept my skills up to date should the need arrive to return to the office, albeit in an entry level role.

ANSWER
5 years ago
women were married and husband went to Work and no money given out from government