Offended at the Phrase 'House Wife'?

Johnny - posted on 10/24/2009

So I wasn't really that into this thread so I read it but didn't bother posting. I never really thought about whether or not I was offended to be called a housewife because no one ever calls me that and I've never put much thought into it. So I was nagging hubby about how he seems just spread dirt around while he's cleaning instead of actually picking it up, and he turns to me, gives me "THE LOOK" and says, "You are such a... housewife!" I was speechless. Then I laughed. I guess for him it's an insult. And thanks to this thread I had a reply, "That's housefrau to you biatch!" Shut him up fast.

Krista - posted on 10/22/2009

You know, "dear" was my first guess, but I thought, who the hell goes around referring to their dear, darling husband? Dick head does seem more appropriate lol!

Sharon - posted on 10/22/2009

D= Darling or Dear



But DH in my case means Dick Head

Krista - posted on 10/22/2009

Quoting Jenn:

I don't find "House Wife" offensive. I don't find the term "Stay at home mom' offensive either.
(and....off topic: What I DO hate are all these friggin' abbreviations that have come with the 'too busy to write out full words' age that we live in (ie: SAHM) Does EVERYTHING have to have an acronym now????)

I agree with the annoyance of all the acronyms!  Somebody has to help me with these: DH, DD, DS...I've gathered that a DH is a husband, DD = daughter, DS = son...but what the hell is the D???

I'm a working mom...well, in a week I will be, when I go back to teaching full time.  I guess I've gotten to be a stay at home mom for a year while on mat leave and it was great, but I really don't think I could do it long term.  I LOVE being home with my son, but I was starting to feel like my twice weekly trips to Walmart were the highlight of my week!  My ideal situation would be working part time, but we'll have to wait until we can afford it. 

Anyway....I've always pictured a housewife to be a married woman who doesn't work, and a stay at home mom, obviously, is one with kids.  The latter has a better connotation, I think.  With all the "desperate" housewives and "real" housewives (I'm addicted to those shows lol) I think that the term housewife is really getting a bad rap!

Traci - posted on 10/21/2009

I don't find the term house wife offensive at all. It's just a word to me. I know I'm not one of those lazy chicks who lays around the house all day watching soaps and eating bon bons while their child lays around in a dirty diaper eating out of the trash can. lol...I've got nothing to be defensive about. When people ask me what I do, I usually just say that I stay at home...but I might say the word housewife from time to time...I've never really thought it to be an offensive term, I guess.



I'm more the 50's type of wife...except for the hairspray and high heels...I think wearing shoes in the house is gross and those shoes would TEAR UP your floor anyway!. lol. Rips in your carpet and scuffs on your floor is all I can picture! shiver!

~Jennifer - posted on 10/21/2009

I don't find "House Wife" offensive. I don't find the term "Stay at home mom' offensive either.
(and....off topic: What I DO hate are all these friggin' abbreviations that have come with the 'too busy to write out full words' age that we live in (ie: SAHM) Does EVERYTHING have to have an acronym now????)

Tracy - posted on 10/21/2009

I don't find house wife offensive at all. Being a house wife or SAHM can be just as rewarding as working full time. I personally don't see it as a negative. I'm enjoying being able to stay at home and take care of my 16month old son and things around the house. My husband is happy and prefers it this way too. It also gives me time to study and save us alot of money in child care.

Cathy - posted on 10/21/2009

Well I'm not married, so it's kinda annoying!

Alison - posted on 10/20/2009

Quoting Natalie:

I just don't care =) Call me whatever you want as long as you're respectful. If you're derogatory about it, it doesn't matter what the words are.

Same here.

Lindsay - posted on 10/20/2009

Hmmm, I can't remember ever being called a "housewife" but I woulodn't take it offensively. Although, there's not a lot that does offend me! I've been both, a working mom and a SAHM, and when the kids are in school full time, I'll be back to the working mom status. I keep the house neat and tidy mainly because I can't function in clutter and I'm slowly becoming a better cook. I typically refer to myself as the HBIC, Head Bitch in Charge! =)

Charlie - posted on 10/20/2009

Oh dont get me wrong i LOVE the 50's style anything vintage is beautiful in fact i saw an awesome apron all lacy and girly and VERY cute with matching oven mitt i told Jamie if he bought it for me i would bake him cakes everyday ( lol , i wouldnt really ) but i just loved it .

I like to do all my cleaning jobs in my old clothes quickly and efficiently so i can change into my nice clothes and lounge around on my couch like Persian cat looking like a page from an IKEA cataloge haha J/K well to an extent ( i do like my house looking like a showroom)

Jocelyn - posted on 10/20/2009

Quoting Loureen:

i jokingly call myself a housewife but to me it conjures up images of stepford type's , baking cookies , cleaning in heels and a highly hair sprayed hairstyle .

Which i am not !!

I prefer domestic Goddess !! LOL.

I must admit, I have vaccumed and washed the dishes while wearing highheels :) And I wear a bumpit to get the big hair (which involves quite a lot of hairspray).  But other than that, my house is always a mess and I always burn what I cook. lmao

I don't mind the term housewife.  I feel very connected to the 50's tho, lol, so maybe that has something to do with it.  I mean, I wear fancy rubber gloves when I am doing the dishes and I love my pearl necklace. 

I do think that it is a term that could be offensive, but it would depend on the context.

On the other hand, I don't prefer the term "stay at home mom" to "housewife".  I don't really like either.  I would much prefer a title that gives the job a bit of glamour.  "domestic goddess" sounds good :) any more ideas? lol

Sharon - posted on 10/20/2009

YEAH!! Loureen!! hahaha I like your title better!! Although looking at my book covered endtable, my paperwork buried printer, my haphazardly stacked gazzilion dvds..... lol I'm not sure I can use it guiltlessly!

Charlie - posted on 10/20/2009

i jokingly call myself a housewife but to me it conjures up images of stepford type's , baking cookies , cleaning in heels and a highly hair sprayed hairstyle .

Which i am not !!

I prefer domestic Goddess !! LOL.

Natalie - posted on 10/20/2009

I just don't care =) Call me whatever you want as long as you're respectful. If you're derogatory about it, it doesn't matter what the words are.

Sharon - posted on 10/20/2009

Its funny? I clean & clean all day long and my house is cluttered too.



I haven't been called a housewife? So I've been trying it out in my head... it annoys me, lol. Occasionally hubby calls me "the housefrau". I haven't figured out what he means by it, although I know what it is. I guess its just him being "funny/odd"

JL - posted on 10/20/2009

I am not a fan of the housewife moniker. It insuiates to me that all one does is stay chained to the house dealing with household duties. I spend most of my time outside of my home, but I do keep a clean house. However, even when I was working I kept a clean house. I am kinda OCD about the cleaning so it has nothing to do with being a "house wife" but to do with having this issue with cleanliness and the feeling of chaos if things are not in order.

Kylie - posted on 10/20/2009

yeh i'm not a big fan of the house wife tag..my Hubby calls me it sometimes when hes teasing me..(hes the bread winner and I'm the housewife ugh grr) I'm not married to my house!..when i have to put my occupation on a form a put stay at home mum:p