Friday, April 9, 2010

Housewife....Puhleeeze

So I promised Baloney and Dawn that I would do a post on what my definition of a "Housewife" is for the new RHOK webpage. I told them not to hate me if I posted something they didn't agree with. They both told me that they love a renegade (which is me), so here we go....

I don't have to put a lot of thought and multi-paragraphs to explain my definition of a "housewife," to me it is very simple. Here it is: A housewife doesn't exist, that is an antiquated word that is no longer relevant in our society. It would be like calling our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq "Spartans." It's just not relevant in our society anymore. It was a term that pretty much came into popularity in the early 1900's and gained momentum through the late 1940s /1950s/early 60s. But we are no longer "those" women.

"Let's go defeat the Taliban!"
I do appreciate what "those" women gave us...washing machines, dishwashers, FABULOUS fashions--I do love me some 1950's fashions--so tailored, sophisticated, feminine (oh, on another note, remember several months ago when there was that quiz going around on Facebook "What Decade Woman Are You?", well, my answer was 1950s. I was the only one of my friends that took it that got that answer, so I appreciate the 1950s, it's just the majority of the roles women played just aren't existent anymore). But they sure looked beautiful. Ahhh--the days of Dior and Chanel. LOVE IT!

So pretty and feminine--classy. I'd totally wear this.
Tailored, classic, smart. I would wear this any day.

Oh, Ms. Hepburn...be still my heart. Could 50's glamour be more fabulous? Give me the occasion, this is exactly what I'd wear.

Ok...a fashion post is for another day. But I love 50's fashion and just all excited and can't stop talking about it. On with our discussion.

Anyway, the long and short of my definition of a "housewife" is nothing...nada. No such thing anymore. Come on ladies, let's define what we are, without the ridiculous terms thrown around these days...domestic engineer? Gag...NO! Stay-at-home mom/wife? Yeah, right...how many of YOU "stay at home" the majority of your day? Working mom/wife? Um...do we really want to put working women in box that defines them as women who only care about their career and not their life outside the office/workplace? I think not. I don't think there is a word/term out there that can encompass all that women are today, but "housewife" isn't it, nor any of those others just mentioned.

So there you have it.

Except this...
This would be a 1950's fashion I am NOT a fan of, however. Yiyiyi--ouch!

Oh--and Baloney is a punk (she knows what that's about--wink, wink). ;)

5 comments:

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

Oh come on. I like those fashions also but I don't think they would work too good around the house.

Alyssa: said...

Oh, Yogi, that first dress (the blue one) is totally acceptable to wear around the house. :)

ThatsBaloney said...

I wear that blue dress for dusting and toilet scrubbing.
I'd agree it is a dated term.
I call myself the CEO of the household but really I'm more of an administrative assistant. You know, I do all the work at home and make no money. :)

Allison said...

Does that mean I am in the minority since I think I spend the majority of my day at home with the boys? I don't have many stay at home mom friends, so I really don't know what is common these days!

Dawn said...

Great job Alyssa! Loved it! And, I agree with you.

I'm hoping at The RHOK we will bring a new definition/identity to today's housewife.

I guess the proper term used today is Homemaker. I can agree with that one.