To just want to be a housewife?

Surely what women that went before us fought for was equality? Which means choices?

If a woman, or a man, or anyone actually wants to stay home doing the domestic stuff, and can afford to, that's ok?

The women that went before us didn't fight for us to have to work five days a week and be career driven. They fought so we could if we chose to.

No, I’m confirming that you’ve said a load of tripe as when I’ve called you up on it you’ve had a huff about one tiny detail rather than actually discussing the response. Which has only shown that your points are utterly irrelevant as even you can’t be arsed to have the conviction to stand by them. But that’s your prerogative.

This has been a bit of a depressing read. It is like the gender pay gap never happened. But then again, I am allergic to words like ‘housewife’ and ‘pottering’!

And there are some privileged viewpoints on here. I am from a culture where girls and women would do anything to get into good careers and senior positions. We don’t have it perfect in the UK but at least on paper women are able to apply for the highest roles, technically on an equal footing to men. On this thread we have so many women wanting to stay home, bake and clean whilst men do the Big Jobs. We have fought so hard for equality, yet women here now they (kind of) have it, want to turn their backs on it. I guess we take things for granted when we have them.

It is also naive to talk about the simple life and condemn people for wanting to earn more money. It is easy to label others as wanting a flashy lifestyle. The thing is, young kids are quite cheap. You don’t need much money. But when your children are older, it can be really helpful too assist them a bit when they are at university or leaving home, or with driving lessons. Also as the NHS becomes more and more challenged, it is good to have a bit of extra cash to help with health issues in yourselves and your children. I wouldn’t dismiss how helpful some extra money can be. It is not just needed for ‘flashy’ houses, cars or holidays. Money can relieve worries too. It is often people with enough money anyway who say money doesn’t matter…

The other thing I find irritating is all this talk about the rat race. There are many people who aren’t working in offices for big corporate firms. Many are public sector workers or people just keeping the country running as it is. I for one am also glad we have women MPs, doctors, lawyers, CEOs and judges. Women who established their careers in their child bearing years so that they can be in senior positions of power and achieve some equality and balance in the workplace at a senior level. I seem to be in a minority!

Anyway, I hope never to depend on a man or benefits (if I am lucky and healthy enough). Financial independence has always been important to me. My kids are at university now and thankfully realise the importance of being financially independent. I hope they manage to achieve that and don’t have to depend on a partner. Luck will come into that too of course.

I enjoy baking. But I also manage it with working full-time!

What a well thought out and carefully constructed response.

Because mumsnet is full of desperately sad women trapped in horrible marriages and one of the first things they usually say is ''I can't leave, I'm a SAHM and have nothing''.

It is a huge risk and I don't blame others for pointing it out.

We are brainwashed into thinking if we are not frantically rushing around all day , juggling 10 balls in the air whilst still managing to earn a full time wage, our lives are meaningless.
Yes you will always get the women on here who find no enjoyment or contentment in being at home, looking after children, let them get on with it. They are usually miserable as sin in every area of their lives.
My Mum never worked once she had her children. She was the happiest Mum l knew.
never stressed, and never bothered going back to work once we were all independent.
We grew up in a calm and peaceful household. We all saw her as a fantastic role model, and feel sad we never got the same opportunity to stay home and concentrate on raising children and looking after the home.
Simplicity is key, if you can afford to stay home or just work part time then do it. You will never regret it.

I want to point out that I support longer paternity leave, more maternity/paternity options and I support equal pay and opportunities so that men can be at home instead of women (in heterosexual partnerships) if that’s what both parties want. However as I said earlier, I’m not aure that men want a life of domesticity. Yes not working, but a domestic life over work is t something I’ve heard many men say they desire, I only know one.

I want to point out that I support longer paternity leave, more maternity/paternity options and I support equal pay and opportunities so that men can be at home instead of women (in heterosexual partnerships) if that’s what both parties want. However as I said earlier, I’m not aure that men want a life of domesticity. Yes not working, but a domestic life over work is t something I’ve heard many men say they desire, I only know one.

We are brainwashed into thinking if we are not frantically rushing around all day , juggling 10 balls in the air whilst still managing to earn a full time wage, our lives are meaningless.
Yes you will always get the women on here who find no enjoyment or contentment in being at home, looking after children, let them get on with it. They are usually miserable as sin in every area of their lives.
My Mum never worked once she had her children. She was the happiest Mum l knew.
never stressed, and never bothered going back to work once we were all independent.
We grew up in a calm and peaceful household. We all saw her as a fantastic role model, and feel sad we never got the same opportunity to stay home and concentrate on raising children and looking after the home.
Simplicity is key, if you can afford to stay home or just work part time then do it. You will never regret it.

This has been a bit of a depressing read. It is like the gender pay gap never happened. But then again, I am allergic to words like ‘housewife’ and ‘pottering’!

And there are some privileged viewpoints on here. I am from a culture where girls and women would do anything to get into good careers and senior positions. We don’t have it perfect in the UK but at least on paper women are able to apply for the highest roles, technically on an equal footing to men. On this thread we have so many women wanting to stay home, bake and clean whilst men do the Big Jobs. We have fought so hard for equality, yet women here now they (kind of) have it, want to turn their backs on it. I guess we take things for granted when we have them.

It is also naive to talk about the simple life and condemn people for wanting to earn more money. It is easy to label others as wanting a flashy lifestyle. The thing is, young kids are quite cheap. You don’t need much money. But when your children are older, it can be really helpful too assist them a bit when they are at university or leaving home, or with driving lessons. Also as the NHS becomes more and more challenged, it is good to have a bit of extra cash to help with health issues in yourselves and your children. I wouldn’t dismiss how helpful some extra money can be. It is not just needed for ‘flashy’ houses, cars or holidays. Money can relieve worries too. It is often people with enough money anyway who say money doesn’t matter…

The other thing I find irritating is all this talk about the rat race. There are many people who aren’t working in offices for big corporate firms. Many are public sector workers or people just keeping the country running as it is. I for one am also glad we have women MPs, doctors, lawyers, CEOs and judges. Women who established their careers in their child bearing years so that they can be in senior positions of power and achieve some equality and balance in the workplace at a senior level. I seem to be in a minority!

Anyway, I hope never to depend on a man or benefits (if I am lucky and healthy enough). Financial independence has always been important to me. My kids are at university now and thankfully realise the importance of being financially independent. I hope they manage to achieve that and don’t have to depend on a partner. Luck will come into that too of course.

I enjoy baking. But I also manage it with working full-time!