Don't call me a "housewife"
Mum-derated! Two thirds of mothers reveal they feel insulted by 'housewife' label
They pride themselves on taking care of the children while running the family home.
Just don’t insult them by calling them housewives.
Two-thirds of mothers who have given up work detest the term ‘housewife’ and prefer to be described as a ‘stay-at-home mum’, a study has revealed.
They believe the housewife label has ‘negative connotations’ and trivialises their role. A third feel it is ‘insulting’.
The stay-at-home mum title, on the other hand, reflects the fact they consider childcare to be their primary role and think household chores should be a shared responsibility.
But despite these views, the majority still find themselves doing the bulk of the cleaning, washing, shopping and cooking.
The poll of 2,000 mothers, carried out by retail chain Mothercare, also found that nearly half of stay-at-home mums think their partner expects them to do more than their share of domestic chores because they aren’t out at work during the day.
Liz Day, parenting consultant for Mothercare, said: ‘Times have changed and clearly mothers feel there are now more modern and perhaps more descriptive names that fit their role.’
Despite TV shows such as The Real Housewives of New Jersey glamorising the life of a housewife it appears most women are unhappy with the traditional job title.
As well as looking at women's perception of their role the report also looked at how they feel they are perceived by the wider society.
Nearly half said they think others consider them ‘boring’ because they have nothing interesting to talk about and many said that they feel as if they are looked down on for staying at home rather than working.
The survey also found that although the market is flooded with time saving gadgets, mums still find it difficult to get everything done.
Ms Day added: 'Mothercare has been caring for parents for 50 years and we have seen the role of parents change and develop through the decades.
'In the 1960’s it was quite normal to expect the mother to give up work and stay at home to bring up the children but lifestyles and technology have changed dramatically since then so the care of children and the household is now the responsibility of the whole family.
'It can be quite hard for mothers in society today.'
The key priority for mums was the happiness of their children, cooking them balanced meals and ensuring that they reach key developmental milestones in good time.
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Call me what you will, but surely, if you intend to stay home and take care of the kids, then part of those duties include cleaning the house, be you a "housewife" or a "house husband" .
lol DKpimp wants to be called an agent and prostitutes have assumed a new name..sex workers !!What next!
The one who manages the house can be called a 'Housemanager'..:)
inferiority complex?
Will supermom be fine? It's just a title anyways, hands up to housewives as that is the hardest job a woman can have, balancing family and a career is never an easy task.
I wonder if it is insulting for men to be called plain "houseband" :(
vast opinion? I think it's just an isolated opinion! I think many are proud to be plain housewife!
DK - I like that..:)))))
Could be 'Resident Manager of Home Affairs' :-/
HGL - That's why i prefer cooking the dinner..;))
DK - & what's that new title?
Nomenclatures have changed over the years..Head cook is now a chef, cleaner an office boy, helper is an office assistant, pimp wants to be called an agent and prostitutes have assumed a new name..sex workers !!
with due respect to all housewives, I guess, they deserve a new name too :-/
HGL you are one clever guy..You could be a perfect House Husband..:)
I would prefer to cook the dinner!! It has two advantages
I totally agree, For me i'm doing the household chores. I want my husband to rest after a tiring day at work but there will always be times that the husband will offer a helping hand like: "if im the one who cooked for dinner,then he'll offer to wash the dishes after eating." It's all up to the two of u. To be labeled as a housewife will never be a big issue for me. I prefer to still have my job even after having a baby but at the end of the day,I'm a housewife & that's rewarding.:))
I dont think so House wife label is soo bad , that it passes a negative thought.. into Pepole.. Its such a grt word.. enjoy being a house wife take the pride of being a house wife then.. there is no probs.. its always the way we see it..
Even the Lioness does all the work like hunting and putting food in her lions and cubs mouth. Why don't people just learn from nature.
amna, I totally agree with you!
nope absolutely not theres nothing wrong with it bcoz a house wife is more hardworking than any employee for sure
Woo Hoo
if they want revenge they can label thier hubby as Office Husband
I dont want to quit my job but i'd love to stay home if i have time & cook for my husband & baby too..What's wrong with being a housewife?
you mean podar
Some people just waste their lives in such petty things.... duh!!!
Flexicode there are lots of men called househusbands.
Why not go for a role reversal and the men be called househusbands. What is there in a name.
LOl @ model mom at your service! umm sounds like the Jini and the Lamp from Alladin's story.YOUR WISH IS MY COMMAND!!!!
Proposed titles:housematemommykabiyakilaw ng tahanantagatayo ng haligi ng tahanan (haligi ni daddy)mother of perpetual helpmodel mom at your servicefirst lady-hope this will add morale to all our homebased-mothers
I was more shocked that they think that cooking and cleaning aren't part of their duties.
What's in a name? That which we call a roseBy any other name would smell as sweet
FS I wish those words were True.Now just take the Mother Inlaw.. You can never please a Mother Inlaw!
My Heroine..Wise Words :)
Precisely!
but to be honest I know who I am, what I do and what I can't, so what a person wishes to call me,based on their limited knowledge of my duties, is upto them. So housewife, homemaker, stay at home mom, etc is all fine tags IMO, provided it's uttered with respect and not with disdain.
Well said..
WashingIroningFoodEtclets just leave it there shall we?
Brit... title wont make any difference if she know who she is...
and only if her family appreciate her efforts!!
Fromatted your comments makes me think of Madona's songDo I have to change my name Will it get me far Should I lose some weight Am I gonna be a star This type of modern life Is it for me This type of modern life Is it for free LOL
Some may say that being called a "Home Minister" is condescending ..
Does it really make any difference what the title is ?
Let's call them "femina domestica"
Home Maker sounds expensive!
Best to call her Home Maker.. Master in Home Science..:)
There are many stay at home mom who got domestic helpers to do the cooking...cleaning and other chores...
It depends on the individual, there are some mothers who know how to balance work and home perfectly...
I have friend here who got 3 kids...never had a maid...and she works in one of the best companies in Qatar in a senior level position...
Even if I stay at home I dont think I will be a perfect home maker like my mom...she was a super mom who can cook..bake...stitch....paint...and what not...she never complained though...all I seen my Dad doin is reading and watching news.. playing Tennis/football ...:)
I mean it is becoming quite common nowadays
All "labels" are somehow insulting. "King", for example means that you are a tyrant or a murderer, and that you take all the money from your people to have a good life for your family. I would not want to be labelled "king."
Nope never. infact she would get upset whenever i tried to do things my self.women of today need to understand that no matter what it's their kids and families that should come first.
Did she complain that she shouldn't have to do all the housework?
What's wrong with staying at home or being a housewife?My mom chose to stop working when she had me and my sisters, and she committed all her time to care for us. and yes it's a profession.
You'll be a 'desperate house wife'.
Then what do you do with yourself? I mean, it's one thing when the kids are babies, but once they go to school, what do you do with yourself during the day?
Obviously, if you have a house maid you don't need to be a house wife anymore. Voila!