In some ways, the housewife of today continues the tradition of the housewives of yesteryear. Cooking, cleaning, attending to her husband’s needs, and depending on him to foot the bill for their living expenses. Yet there is something fundamentally different; the social, cultural, and economic environment has had drastic changes. In some ways, the housewife of today is better off -if anything goes wrong she can get divorced and get a job with relative cultural and economic ease. In other ways, she is worst off, if her husband is the one to leave her, there is little cultural, social, or economic pressure to force him to ‘do right’ by his wife. While stories of generous alimony towards ex-wives often make headlines the reality is most wives leave their marriage in financial devastation.
Modern housewives are also following a ‘new’ trajectory. While their path is traditional, it is also foreign. Women primarily being housewives as a norm (in America) occurred a distant 3-4 generations prior. It is now unusual, socially ostracizing, and oddly mysterious.
And what does it mean to be a housewife? The fact that it is still a chosen vocation is a testament to its draw. But even those who choose it don’t always understand it or even agree about what it means. Is it about not doing something (working) or is it about doing something (cooking, cleaning, housework)?
Following a tradition we are completely cut off from is not exactly a continuation of the old but more like a second life, a new breath to an old vision. What does life look like void of ‘work’. Does freedom from financial burden truly feel free? Is freedom of time sometimes more of a burden? And why do some modern women still choose this vocation?
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
______
Related:
- Modern Housewives Search for Meaning https://bythefigandtheolive.com/absenceofmeaning/
- Freedom to Choose https://bythefigandtheolive.com/freedom/
- Teaching our Daughters to be Resilient, Resourceful, and Unafraid https://bythefigandtheolive.com/womenunafraid/
- Modern vs. Traditional. (Re)building the Black Muslim Family https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D04xiOFTGWc&t=5s
- Feminism and Housewifery https://nuriddeenknight.substack.com/p/feminism-and-housewifery
_____
Consider subscribing to our newsletter Afterthoughts for more posts and our weekly newsletter, paid subscriptions help to support our work. Subscribe for a free or paid subscription here. Also, be sure to join our Telegram and follow our Instagram.
Recent Comments