Relationship: Will you accept to be a housewife?

In the past, the men were the breadwinners, while the women were the home-makers. However, today, due to interventions and equal opportunities, many women have proved themselves as capable as men in all professions including medicine, law, engineering and administration.

However, in some cases, a woman’s profession comes under threat when she marries and raises a family.

Imagine the case of a businessman married to a highly qualified administrator. Both have very busy schedules and hardly make time for each other and their children.

The man, sensing danger, asked his wife to resign and stay at home and care for the family. He promised allowance and incentives better than what she earns at work but she turned down the offer. Today, the marriage hangs on a thin thread.

The good aspect of being a housewife

A housewife is a married woman whose main occupation is running or managing her family’s home – caring for the children, cooking, taking care of the home and buying goods for the family’s day to day needs.

A housewife is the boss of her home and sets her own schedule to help those you love most. You keep the house clean and in order.

You have the chance to take better care of your young children especially at the formative years when they learn the most important values of life. You put your family first and make all the sacrifices for them.

Being a housewife may make economic sense. Some studies suggest that in cases where a woman’s salary is not very high, it is better for her to stay at home and take care of the children and family because her expenditure may be higher than her income.

You feel refreshed and energised all the time. At the end of the day, you go to sleep with your boss! In fact, the 2014 UK Wellbeing Index showed that mothers who stay at home have a stronger sense that their lives are ‘worthwhile’ than the rest of the society.

The danger of being a housewife

Putting your talent at work improves your self-esteem and skills. You gain a sense of personal value. Your workplace provides an avenue to make friends and promote partnership.

A housewife is completely dependent on her man but anything can happen. In case of divorce or the husband losing his job, you could be left completely empty and trying to get a job may be very difficult. It is, therefore, risky to live off a spouse’s income in this hard times.

According to a British Feminist, Anna Oakley, being a housewife is directly opposed to the possibility of a woman’s self-actualisation. You may be lonely and bored because in most cases, your husband may not be around to give companionship and affection.

Will you accept to be a housewife?

Feminists assert that the best thing for a married woman is the choice to work both inside the home and outside the home. This may explain why today, one in three British married women is now a primary breadwinner and primary housekeeper.

Some advocate that women choose playroom with family over boardroom and abandon office for hearth. Others advise women to work before they have children, stay at home with them when they are young and get back to work when the children grow old.

Back to the question; will you accept to be a housewife? The answer is simple. The world is yours. You can choose whatever life brings the best out of you to give your best to yourself and family.