Hooray, another blogging prompt~ This one is quite a sensitive topic for me as I find myself on the other side of the spectrum. Without further ado, the question:
- Do you experience this same assumption from society in general that just because you’re being crafty you're also driven by some unseen force to be in constant 1950s housewife mode? And then... Who actually does the cooking and the cleaning in the household? I’d also really like to hear some words from the men in the crowd who stitch on this topic. What sort of societal reactions do you get and what ridiculously wrong assumptions do people make towards you when they see you working on needlework?
Well, I'm weird. I am a housewife, but as one that is under 30 years old, I find a lot of pressure, disbelief, and/or ridicule for my choice. "Don't you get bored; what do you do all day?" "You're so lucky, you just get to sit around all day!" The snide hints that I'm unable to do anything else with my life. It's incredibly frustrating and painful. "Just do what makes you happy" only applies if other people are happy with your choices.
As for who cooks and cleans, well, I do everything~ I like to cook and as cliché as it sounds, I love having supper ready when B gets home from work (though it's hard to get the timing right as he'll come home at a different time every day). I like that he can come home from work, eat food, and then vegetate the rest of the evening (as do I). I also do the yard work which includes all the lawn mowing (love to do that) and gardening. The only thing that's "his" domain is car maintenance. Obviously if there's something beyond my physical ability (hey, I can't move all the furniture by myself), he'll help out. I try to keep the house sparkling and as we don't have kids (do the crazy cats count?), I might have it quite a bit easier than others, but that still doesn't mean I sit around and do nothing. There is ALWAYS something to be done around the house, but that doesn't mean I'm not allowed a break! And if that break involves stitching, so much the better!
I'm certainly no 50's housewife though. Can you imagine the dress and heels? I'd faceplant all over the house while being strangled by pearls, haha! I have gotten some strange looks from B when he comes home from lunch and I'm in horribly dirty work clothes which are anything but glamorous. I'm much too practical to wear clothes to look nice while scrubbing floors and whatnot. I need to be able to move comfy as I'm wriggling all over the house. :D
Perhaps because my other interests include video games, computers, etc., I haven't encountered too many "old lady hobby" dissenters for my crafting desires. I can be a crafter, just not a housewife.
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I agree so much with this post.
ReplyDeleteI prefer to think of myself as a 1940's housewife. Resourceful, crafty, and thrifty. Oh, and waiting for the Army to give my husband back. No heels or pearls needed.
I don't think I can associate with any decade, ahaha. Maybe the 80s. Without the hair.
DeleteOr maybe with the hair.
Just had to say - this?
ReplyDelete"I'm certainly no 50's housewife though. Can you imagine the dress and heels? I'd faceplant all over the house while being strangled by pearls, haha!"
Made me completely crack up! ;) Because I *so* would too, LOL!
Also, I agree completely. I mean, I'm not a housewife, but being at home due to illness recently gets a lot of the same sort of "wow, you must have nothing to do all day, lucky lucky you" snide comments that are so far off the mark that it's not even funny. And I also have a half a wardrobe full of old clothes, especially for the purpose of cleaning and (the messy, painty type of) crafting!
Ahaha, I can't wear heels without some sort of assurance that they'll stay firmly attached to my feet. Kitten height is about the highest I can go without being a hazard to myself and everyone around me. 8D
DeleteSee! Old clothes are awesome for all the dirty work (and I've discovered being a housewife is not a clean job at all) but they are anything but glam. Maybe I should change before the guy comes home and look like I've just stepped out of a cookie cutter. XD Don't see that happening though!
I am so NOT a housewife! I've been a SAHM and only worked part time at the most for the last 9 years but the amount of house-wifery is no different to when I worked full-time. (Apart from the kids' laundry!).
ReplyDeleteI hate the comments about "being stuck at home all day", we're always out and about.
If people hear I cross stitch without seeing my work they might get the wrong idea because of the English style (teddies and cutesy creatures) which just isn't me. As soon as they see what I stitch they totally get it as part of me.
I think people have a better opinion of SAHM rather than just a housewife! Something about kids in the picture makes everyone much more agreeable, haha. As for being stuck at home, I actually am since we (currently) have only one vehicle and the guy takes it to work. It's quite a hindrance 'cause I'd like to be able to do the shopping!
DeleteYep, my stitchings make sense to those that know me as well! :D Thank goodness for being unlimited to stereotypes!
I don't drive and two things I insisted on when we bought the house were a corner shop within 10 minutes walk and a bus stop/train station the same. I have to have my independence.
ReplyDeleteI agree that most people think it's ok to SAH with children but do expect you to work once they start school. Never mind how hard it is to find child-friendly work. I was lucky with my job but I still have to scratch around in the summer holidays for holidays and swap days for when hubby can't have the boys.