I was asked this today and I nearly threw a fit ! I said that I feel I'm really working now I'm at home looking after the home, the kids and my DH. Then there was a brief pause before I was asked what I'd prefer to be called? Housewife or SAHM?

Why do people have to be pidgeon holed?
Also, what label do you guys prefer when asked?

Actually, I think you're over-reacting.

The common, accepted understanding of the word "work" is having a job. I doubt the other person was querying your commitment to your family.

And as for being called a housewife - that was also in common parlance before SAHM took over and is not, imho, offensive.

i think you took it too personally too.

on the subject of 'housewife', i wanted to put 'mother' as occupation on the birth certs... but they wouldnt let me. said it had to be housewife which i really didnt want for some reason. im not blinkin married for a start. and i dont do housework darling. so im not keeping house, nor a wife. they looked unimpressed and put housewife anyway. [shrugs]

I put student on my DDs birth certificate - ROTFL which is apt because i am an eternal student, never again though, no really

i shouldve thought of that.
i think i got 'unemployed' on the first one coz i was so stumped at not being allowed 'mother'
i was almost def 'housewife' for the third... and cant even remember registering the second

Another that thinks you over-reacted too. Most people see "work" as a paid job rather than staying home all day.

How else could you phrase that question without causing offence to you? "What did you do when you had a job?" ..."I do have a job, looking after kids is a job"...

I would cut them some slack, doesn't sound like they were trying to be rude.

Actually, "what did you do before having children" would have been more PC, thinking about it.