Define "housewife"

By lilmissmel

Taking a thought off of LVGurl on this one.

Hubs and I were having a conversation the other day, about who knows what, and he referred to my job as a “housewife”. (He wasn’t trying to be demeaning, just calling it like he sees it.) I immediately had a problem with this verbiage and called him on it. He was quite dismayed at my reaction. What was the big deal? You are a housewife. Yes, yes, I get that, but the picture that comes to my mind when I think of a housewife, is some chippy from the 50’s with her dress, heels and apron on holding a tray of cookies and a cocktail for the man of the house as he enters the front door. Just doesn’t ring true in my home.

That, I believe, is the issue with that term. I am not a housewife, but I do run the house and everything that comes with it. I manage all the finances. I am primary caretaker of our child. I am in charge and perform most household duties. I shop or oversee all purchases for the home. I do all of this while my husband works full time and makes it possible for me to stay home with our son. So, technically, I AM a housewife. BUT why the hang up on the title?

Does the “Stay at Home Mom” title even cover it? Is there another term that would nip all of this in the bud, and give our job a millennium face lift? Do tell…

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