Is 'Housewife' an occupation?

Buy unemployed usually means you are looking for work. I am not looking for work so why should I say I am unemployed? Why should I have to say I am something I am not to be seen as worth something I society? I hate this idea that somehow people that stay at home with children (mainly women) are not worthy in some way.

I didn't see the programme I dont really like mastermind and I have 2 young children to try and get sorted. What do you think she should call herself? My mum is retired but hates it as she says it makes her feel old so she says housewife when asked unless its official forms etc. If that is how she wants to describe herself then how is that any of your business. Also my mum is still a mother at 65 so should be able to still use that surely if housewife isnt acceptable, since you never stop being a mother...

It is an occupation per economic theory because she isn’t unemployed. Technically her status would be unpaid worker.

It's brainwashing by capitalism and misogyny to think that receiving a paycheque from, say, some faceless corporation for shuffling paper is more a 'real' occupation than work done unpaid.

Housewife is fine. It's the modern devaluing of it that's not.

No it’s not. And neither is ‘full time mum’- no, you’re unemployed. Whether it’s your choice or not, you are still unemployed.

How about cleaner, cook, social secretary, personal assistant ...

I was an unpaid carer for my DD until she died a couple of years ago. I haven't been in paid employment for 20 years so getting a job now will be difficult (unless it's as a carer- which I think I've done enough of ). My DH is due to retire in a couple of years so I'm not exactly looking for a new career as we will then be free to do all the things we couldn't do when DD was alive. My DS is away at Uni and works when he is home. So for now, I do everything around the house - what else would you suggest I call myself other than 'housewife?'

Retired makes me sound old

So i dont want that one

So mother is an occupation but housewife not?

What age do you stop being a mother?

Retired? Don't be silly.

You don't like housewife as occupation, ok. I think you need to suggest an alternative seeing as you're the one who is??? at a woman you know nothing about saying occupation housewife on mastermind (i mean she had to say something).

How things have changed? Back in the 1990s no woman would dare to suggest that a woman who isn't in paid employment but looks after the house and children is not working.

Nobody ever said "Do you work?" to a mother, because we all knew that they had plenty of work, maybe just not a lot of money.

If you're single, no kids but have a hefty inheritance or what not to live off how would you define yourself. Home maker doesn't quite seem right?

What’s wrong with Housewife?
Is ‘kept Woman’ more to your liking?
I’ll technically be a housewife when I finish work next week, although I’ll make more money (tax free too) sat on my sofa in my pyjamas than I ever did at work, come to think of it I suppose I will be able to call myself a professional Gambler.

Yes I think it’s an occupation or maybe a vocation. Depends on how you look at it. I guess. I came to it by choice (and very fortunate that DH has a well paid job) when my DS were young. Now because of our particular circumstances life works better for our family for me be a housewife. It’s not a well regarded status in society but I m proud of it.

errol

I just asked dh and he said ‘stating the bleeedin’ obvious’

You work to live not live to work. As pp have mentioned... how would you like her to categorise herself? Domestic dweller? Lady of leisure?
Why do you care? How do you define yourself, do you think your occupation makes you better than her?

I'd probably say housewife or SAHM tbh. In reality I'm long term sick but I don't want to talk about it or answer questions from nosy buggers.

I don't know why they even state the contestants' occupation on Mastermind, it is not relevant to the show and doesn't define people.

But if the lady wanted to define herself as a housewife then I think that's up to her.

If you don’t work and are getting car insurance you have a choice of unemployed, homemaker or retired. If you are unemployed it generally means you are looking for work and your insurance will be higher.

I dont know tbh. Recently we changed our insurance and i was asked about my occupation. I said "Nothing at the moment, im just taking care of the kids at home for now." The insurance guy looked at me like im insane and said "youre a housewife then! Thats not nothing! Its a very important role."
So yes, i guess it counts as an occupation.

Ahhh you have pulled out the 'supported by their partner' sentence.
I stay at home causs it worked out better financially for us and we have no outside support and tbh I just wanted to. When we first got married I supported my dh while he was training. I now support our family by providing childcare and doing the majority of household maintenance. You seem very judgemental towards women who choose to stay home.

I was a housewife for years. I couldn't describe myself any other way if I was asked. I wasn't unemployed, because I wasn't available to work.

I'm afraid at this point I'm more curious to know what rufus's specialist subject would be.

'Can't we think of a different word to describe a person who can afford to stay at home because they are supported by their partner?'

Interesting.