Do you consider being a housewife a respectable career?

[Antelope]

I personally don't believe it is, but that's not for me to decide.

Yes, being a housewife is a respectable career

No, being a housewife is not a respectable career

Other

Updates

+1 y

To people getting hung up on the word choice of "career", it was just a split-second word choice. Didn't mean to imply anything

[lumos]

I wouldn't call it a career, work or a job, because to me that involves getting a salary for the things you do. I'm not trying to diminish the stuff housewives do because I'm sure it's a lot to take care of and I do think they deserve respect just like anyone else. It's a lot of cooking, cleaning and taking care of others, so naturally I think it's a good thing. But I don't see it as a job the way I see "real" jobs, as in working for money. I work in a kitchen where I constantly do a lot of cleaning and I help out with the cooking, but when I come home to cook and clean I don't think it's a "job" in the same sense that me working in the kitchen is a job. At home I'm doing it because I don't want to live in a filthy apartment, and I like eating good food. At work I do it because ultimately, it's what gives me money.

But like I said, it doesn't mean it's not a respectable choice to make. It's just not really the same as a real job. There are some similarities, but not really enough for me to see it as one.

[AbsoluteCutie]

Yes, it’s very respectable, but not everyone can afford that lifestyle. There’s really an art to it that’s lost a lot of respect over the years due to the need for women to work. Women now don’t have the luxury to stay home watch over their children as often as they used to. Being a stay home mom wasn’t necessarily just stay home, cleaning and looking after the house. Some handled the family finances and others practiced the art of homesteading while being more available to their children for helping with home work and their overall rearing.

[jgokgotit]

I voted yes, assuming this was agreed upon by the husband and wife and the husband makes enough to sustain this lifestyle comfortably. Having a housewife makes life easier because there is no stress of worrying about cost of childcare or a babysitter. The wife is home to take care of the kids. One parent is there for the kids so the kids have a stable and disciplined environment. Also, when the kids are at school, she can get the house cleaned and figure out what needs to be done at the family level. This might sound very 1950s-like, but this really makes dividing responsibilities easier. In this dynamic, the housewife would and should be treated as an equal. Maintaining a home is equally as hard and important as a job.

[Bananaman177]

It's way more respectable than having a career.

A housewife is some child's mother.

A career woman is just her boss's stooge. Working hard to make somebody else rich isn't respectable. Not even the people you work so hard for respect you, why should random strangers?

[Antelope]

And if she's not a mother? Notice it's just a housewife, not necessarily a stay-at-home mom.

Besides, a "stooge" brings in money so that the household can even exist. Now, instead of two bread-winners providing for 3, you have one providing for 3.

[mrfoox]

If they are doing it willingly, very respectable. It's not really an option for many though, since you need both paychecks, unless the man have a higher paying job.
But caring for a household and possibly children along side it, is a big commitment. Especially if it's an actual house that's being lived in. Overall I have respect for women who do this. Too much of things and things we do in this modern day are measured by monetary gains. Not everything can be or should be measured in that way. So yes, caring for a household and raising your children is very respectable in my opinion

[Doctor_Strix]

Career: an occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person's life and with opportunities for progress. -Oxford

Sounds like motherhood to me. Compensation is not required for a persons “work” to be a career.

The same question and analysis can be applied to Stay at Home Dads.

[Antelope]

Tell that to the many others pestering me about this lmao

[Doctor_Strix]

HEY EVERYBODY!!

Career: an occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person's life and with opportunities for progress. -Oxford

Sounds like motherhood to me. Compensation is not required for a persons “work” to be a career.

The same question and analysis can be applied to Stay at Home Dads.

[Agape93]

It’s not a career. In a career, you get paid. A housewife, to me, is an unpaid, live in domestic servant. She cooks, cleans and takes care of the kids. No advancement. Constantly under appreciated. Sometimes even disrespected or abused.

[Antelope]

I'm getting fairly mixed reviews, mostly positive ones.

[Doctor_Strix]

It’s a sad day to see a comment like this.

You do get that being a housewife is a choice, right?

[Agape93]

Yes, now a days it is. But before, it wasn’t. It was mandatory.

[Doctor_Strix]

Yes, because as history will tell us. You had to have kids, while you were young, and you had to have multiple children.

Why? Survival rate.

Our generation is the first generation to experience unprecedented human behavior. Children are a luxury now. It is no longer about survival. More life choices and life styles are presented.

[Agape93]

It was also a societal thing, not just mere survival.

But now we have options. And since we have those options, people think it’s sad that we point out how fucked up it can be.

[Doctor_Strix]

Oh, I see what you did there. Clever gal.

Are you suggesting that being a housewife, or stay at home dad for that matter, is domestic servitude?

[Agape93]

To me, yeah, I’m pretty sure I made that quite clear. Others don’t have to agree with me, and frankly their opinion doesn’t concern me.

[Doctor_Strix]

But should your partner want to be either a housewife or househusband, does that change your level of respect for them?

[Agape93]

I have no intent on marriage, so that doesn’t really apply to me.
I’ve made my statement clear. What else must I reexplain in order for you to grasp?

[Doctor_Strix]

Are you always this hostile to people who challenge your views?

[Agape93]

No, I’m not being hostile. I’m getting annoyed that someone keeps trying to get me to explain views I’ve expressed and made abundantly clear. You can challenge all you like, but it gets annoying when you’re constantly making me repeat myself.

[Doctor_Strix]

You wouldn’t have to repeat anything if you expanded further on your position. And continuously making it a point that you are having to repeat yourself, as if I suffer from a cognitive disability, makes you seem like an ass. So, stop it.

[Agape93]

I’ve already made my point perfectly clear. It’s not my fault you can’t seem to grasp it.
Hon, you came to ME and decided to argue MY viewpoint to ME. If you don’t like how I point out I have to repeat myself, then leave me alone. You don’t get to tell me what to do.

[Doctor_Strix]

But.. Ma’am, you’re not making your point clear. That’s what I’m trying to get out of you. You stated your opinion. And you’re just leaving it out to dry. For example, you view being a stay at home parent is equivalent to domestic servitude. Indentured servant basically.

[Doctor_Strix]

Care to expand on that?

[Agape93]

I’ve made it clear. You just can’t seem to grasp it, and that’s not my problem.

[Doctor_Strix]

Great job. 👍🏽

[Agape93]

Now run along, and have a good day/night.

[Nadim171]

Never fully depend on someone no matter who it is (except your parents if you're underage) you might get divorced, most domestic abuse victims are housewives because if they got divorced they would live off the streets.

[Dwagyn]

I suppose it depends on where you live, but in this economy in the United States (unless you are somewhat wealthy), it takes two working partners to support a family. Even with myself and my partner making decent money, I wouldn't feel comfortable trying to bring a child into the world.

Unless I moved to a country with better medical support and proper wages.

[R_ūshī]

IT'S NOT A CAREER. Might be a respectable decision, depending on the situation in the household but IT'S NOT A CAREEEERRRRRRR.
RAAAWWWRRRR

[Antelope]

So glad I got my 20th reminder it isn't a career lmao

[BagoH]

I would absolutely appreciate and love my wife for doing her thing. Being a housewife taking care of us both and the kids. I'd also make sure to be a responsible husband and fulfill my duties. (providing, protecting, caring, loving) and satisfying my wife.👌 💪 Definitely respected.

[KaitieSearching]

It’s not a career. But it’s still respectable. A career is not even the same thing as a job. So, being a housewife is a role, but not a career.

[Antelope]

Lol so many people hung up on the word

[Unit1]

They're absolutely Not my type of woman but i won't judge those, who go for it. My type of woman is the one, who carries her own weight like many of us do.

modern survival is all about the money. You need it to buy food to eat, a place to stay, sleep and for hobbies and also for healthcare. We no longer have to defend our tribes from wildlife, barbarians or the apex predators. most of us are now enslaved by the money and the government.

[Izumiblu]

Never really thought if it as a career but given that family is the most important facet of a persons life taking care of that family and enabling them to succeed is certainly a highly respectable choice.

[Ally247]

yes it is, it's hard work. I actually find working and having a career easier to it, and therefore would opt for that. I admire housewives and don't think they should be shamed, but its not for me. I also find it ironic that men want housewives and traditional submissive women, but also accuse them of being gold diggers and complain about being the main providers.

[Xylem1992]

Gold diggers are not housewives. They dont work in any way. Except you know, by difinition, digging gold. Hook up with someone basically just to live off of him.

[zagor]

Yes, if that's what she wants to do. Or he. I have a friend whose wife had a good executive job and he stayed home and raised the kids and only worked part time at a sporting goods store. If your marriage is a partnership and one of you earns enough to pay the bills, and it is agreeable to both, nothing wrong with it. Though I would think it would be boring af, personally.

[HayleyMarie]

Being a stay at home parents is a full time job within itself, so yes I’d say is quite respectable. My only thing is, this day and age not many can afford to have only one income in the household. But if you have the means then why not?

[Astarlessnightsky]

I wouldn't call it a career, but its definetly respectable.

[Antelope]

Is there a word you'd rather me use?

[Astarlessnightsky]

I can't think of one better fitting at this moment.
It could be because i am not a native English speaker 🤷‍♂️
But once i thought of something i let you know.

[Xoirwinkan]

When I get married and have kids, I would love it if my wife would stay home to raise the kids and do housework. I dont want some strangers, who are understaffed, to raise my kids. The kids would have a better childhood, the woman would be more fulfilled. It just works.

[Passinggas]

Whether it is a career or not, I cherish it. Respectable? Very much so, I say more so than a career due to the selfless aspect that comes with it, honorable.

[Phoenix98]

In my mind I see it as one of the greatest things a woman can do. And I mean that in the most respectful way, giving birth to a life, raising it, molding it instilling your ideals and morals into it. To be a good person and go out and do good/great things in the world, there's no greater calling to me.

[Dog20]

Do you think women who don't work and stay home with their kids are worthless and not needed in modern society?

[Antelope]

Worthless? No. Worth less? Yes.

They're CERTAINLY not NEEDED. Pre-school and day care exists for these reasons. It's cheaper and better for raising a more independent child.

Disclaimer: that's what I THINK, I'm not saying that's a god-given fact

[Dog20]

I'd rather be a mom to my kids then to send them to fucking daycare. But whatever, think what you want.

[Antelope]

You can be a mom to your kids AND go to work. People do it all the time

[Dog20]

I;m talking about newborn babies. If a woman has the option to stay at home during the first few years of her kid's life 0-5 years then she should be able to not work and stay with her kid for the first 5 years. You can give me shit, say how my logic is stupid but I don't care.

[Antelope]

I'm not saying your logic is stupid, you have a logical point, I'm presenting my side.

[mistixs]

Cheaper? You realize they cost money, right? And the costs often cancel out the money the woman is earning from her job?

Why pay someone else to raise your kids when you can do it?
Why do preschool/daycare teachers have "respectable careers" according to you, but mothers do not?
Also the woman needs to be able to breastfeed for the 2 years recommended by doctors.

[Antelope]

What daycare are you going to where it cancels out the earnings from a job? If the woman gets appropriate training then daycare should be little problem to pay for. And someone else isn't raising your kids, your kid is exploring the world.

Those preschool teachers are paid and trained and have accountability for what they do, and allow families to work and bring income into their household.

Also, on the breastfeeding:
1. Doctors support formula.
2. Breastfeeding is an option before and after daycare.
3. Of course the mother can and should take a break from her job if she has a newborn. Staying at home is needless, however.

[Guardian45]

Actually, society are extremely shortsighted if they cannot see the direct connection and value of housewives and children to a country's wealth and GDP and they're fools!

[Dog20]

Did this girl deserve to be hit by him? ↗

[MzAsh]

I think it definitely IS if that’s what the woman wants to do and it works well with her husband and the overall goals of the family.

[beldath]

I don't see being a housewife respectable at all. It doesn't take all day to do all the chores and make food/go shopping.
If you're not financially helping out, you're just a trophy wife. (There are some exceptions, but not many.)

[waaromniet]

I would love to be a househusband :p Not everyone enjoys going out there to grind another paycheck to the same degree. Id feel way more useful supporting a partner that does enjoy this