The term housewife!

foxgloves

I worked for 22 years at a professional graduate job then took redundancy so we're now living on my husband's salary & I run the household. I've found it quite interesting & a new experience as to how exactly I should describe myself! I thought about all the usual options......I don't really like 'housewife' for no reason other than it sounds so old-fashioned, I don't like 'Home maker' as sounds too American & Stay at home Mum irrelevant as I don't have children. I do most of the domestic tasks (tho' husband loves to cook at weekends) & enjoy the more sort of self-sufficient type stuff too, such as growing veggies, preserving, baking bread, etc, but I also do manage all the budget side of stuff, sorting out suppliers, bills, business & household admin stuff, so I decided the thing I felt happiest with was Chief Domestic Economist! I say it with a smile on my face, as I know most people will be translating it as 'housewife' or 'unemployed' but I feel it best represents my new role & the stuff I actually do & contribute to the household economy. One thing I DO really object to, is when doing a survey or filling in a form where one has to tick boxes citing occupation, occasionally I've found that 'unemployed' or 'not working' is the only option to tick for those not actually in paid work which is a bit offensive when you think how much we all get through in a day! Moan over! Interesting thread.

sweetpea26

I agree Foxgloves. Being is housewife is certainly varied and interesting. I do so much as I run this home. A few examples are
household management/banking /!!!!!!!!!!! etc
shopping
cleaning
cooking
gardening
diy/painting
family organisation.. keeping all happy/content/loved/schools/after school club/kids meeting up with friends etc.
holiday logistics:)
control of all bills
keep all cars/clothing and household contents in good condition.:)
help and organise eldelry relatives.
Add to that whats need to keep me sane, ebay, seeing friends. trip to the library and I think where did the day/week go.

There's not much time for anything else let alone a job outside the home. Where would we find the time to get everything done after an exhausting days work. Something would suffer somewhere along the line.

I love a Monday as my weekend as far as I am concerned is my busiest time of the week with running after everyone. I breathe a sigh of relief when I close the door after the school run I can tell you.

So I am proud of what I do and my husband respects what I do so I am happy. I can never imagine going back to work for the simple reason I love doing what I want to do when I want but if my husband became ill I know I would have to.

snowleopard61

'Project manager' has always seemed to me quite an apt job description, if a bit of a pretentious title!

foxgloves

Oh yes! Project management. I forgot that when I typed my post.....I've found that project managing something like having a new kitchen, a big decorating project, vegetable growing plans to maximise biggest crops for smallest outlay, etc, is essentially no different from the skills I used in project management while I was working. I still make long term & short term planning lists, have weekly & daily priorities & find myself multi-taskng like mad! That's why while I don't find the term 'housewife' derogatory, it doesn't give a true picture of the sheer amount of stuff we achieve. Because we're brilliant. Am bigging us all up now! x

juliettet

I would love to be a housewife too and take more pleasure looking after the house instead of cramming everthing in at the weekend. All the housewives I know are up to date with current affairs and helpful with neighbours etc.

tori.k

Im the same Juliettet I would love to stay at home full-time and be a housewife but needs must.

I do have a very career minded friend that bless thinks im backwards, she turned up for coffee one day when i was boiling up a casserole that i then put on top of the woodburner to finish off, I thought she was going to pass out as far as she is concerned it's oldstylers like us that set the whole womens liberation movement back 50 years.

im the first to admit the division of labour on everyday jobs in this house kind of sucks at times as im working too, but the simple things like pottering around my veg plot or making a cake gives me enjoyment from the simple pleasures in life. roll on retirement

RevolvingDoor

To me feminism is about women and men being able to take on whatever role they feel comfortable with. If some women are happy to be at home, taking care of the home and/or kids then they should be able to. I don't consider career women to be more liberated than me because I'm a housewife.:)

foxgloves

I totally agree. Feminism is simply that equal choices should be available for both men & women. Of course in the past, many women would have loved to have worked, but this was not an option once they were married & expected to tend their home & man. Some professions were all but barred to women in the past & women are still inadequately represented at executive level in business & in politics. I see nothing wrong with women staying at home. It's personal choice that matters. Often circumstances play a big part. While we had a lot of debt, staying at home wouldn't have been an option for me, & house prices often mean that both partners have to work. So while I know many people wouldn't have opted to leave work, there will be plenty more who really wish they could do so. At the end of the day, we're all different & have to do our best whatever our personal circumstances. Oooh dear, getting a bit philosophical...time for a cup of tea x

daska

I thought a domestic was a minion you hired in because you wanted someone else to clean the bathroom etc. No offence to the people who do that job well but cleaning is not the same as running a house.

mishmogs

I was made redundant last year and found being at home as a housewife a revelation, I love it. Although I went to college for 6 months and I now work 2 days a week, which I also enjoy, being at home the other days is very rewarding.

I thought when I had kids I would be a SAHM but the kids never came along so I just carried on working. It has been a challenge to change my outlook, ways of thinking and what I do and how I do it to, be efficient but also to save money and be productive but I have seen it as a challenge and one which should be shouted about. I see myself now as a housewife. We know that we are lucky we can do this as DH has a good job. I do all the organising, problem solving, planning and execution and he does the sitting around when he gets in :rotfl::rotfl: