to wish I was a 1950s middle-upper class housewife?

[cruikshank]

I reckon it would be great. No need to work. The husband does all that, in the city, and maybe bothers you once a year for marital ghastliness. And you have STAFF. Someone to cook, someone to clean, someone to do the gardening. You'd see the kids all washed and ready for bed for a couple of minutes in the evening. Your days could be free for doing embroidery and playing the piano and shit like that. As for nights, well, you'd have to eat dinner with the husband but then he'd go off and smoke his pipe somewhere while you read a book. And you wouldn't have to wash up! Sounds a lot better than trying to fit 48 hrs worth of activity, working, ferrying around, cleaning, cooking, washing etc into 24 and then congratulating yourself that you've 'got it all'. Bah.

Still got food rationing until 1954, and you probably lost friends in the war.
Also, if you're upper class at that time you're feeling embattled - you're being taxed heavily, you have to watch all kinds of frightful nouveau riches (as you would probably have considered them) taking over your friends' old houses after they've had to sell up. And my dear, the music young people listen to these days!

Aww, stop spoiling this nice thread with reality!
I'm going to have a basket to take into town and order a delivery from the butcher, as well as a new dress; the dressmaker has my measurements and a darling new organza.
I will meet Celia on Thursdays for lunch, and attend church committees every other Monday.
I would like to invite you all to on informal supper on Saturday evening, just rags, followed by canasta.

At least you would get your post before 3pm

Bulbasaur! History
women did have the vote in the 1950s

Yeah I think you need to go earlier than the 50s for this lifestyle!

In the 50s it was post war and women were grafters at home!

I do love the idea though. The married ladies in Downton getting breakfast in bed every day makes me v jealous!!

I could learn accomplishments like the piano. Rather than working 10 hours a day, commuting for 4 and having to deal with my own housework.

Why would there be no oral sex?

Cunnilingus invented later???!

My grandmother had that sort of life overseas in the 50s.

When they came back to the UK she had a nervous breakdown

I'm really shit at embroidery and stuff though. I'd have to sing/dance and be charming instead.

Sounds great for about a day, but after that I think I would die inside. All very well being a lady of leisure, but imagine having no autonomy over decisions that affect your life and family. No ability to plan your family with access to reliable birth control, no say in financial matters and not being regarded as an equal partner to your husband? The 1950s may seem like a lovely retro fantasy, but in reality, women were slaves in all but name.

Ah, nothing to do all day but watch daytime telly. Paradise.

Hang on a minute... there might be a flaw in this plan.

You probably wouldn't have to do much 'marital duty'. Your husband would be shagging his secretary. Sex at home would be terribly British and only for procreation.

I'd like one of those 1950s labours where they just pump you full of drugs and you don't remember anything.

Oh god, yes.... and meeting friends for afternoon tea.

Far more bloody interesting than looking at a sodding spreadsheet.

A daily cook-housekeeper costs about £35k. Know several people who have one and consider it money very well spent.

I would hate the 1950s. My gay friends would be in prison, and my black and Irish friends would be subject to horrifying prejudice.

I'd have to give up my 4 donut a day habit. And marital ghastliness is not for me. Plus, it would probably be quite cold without central heating. Plus, there'd be no internet. I'd absolutely hate it.

Reckon I'd enjoy quaaludes and tranx though.

I am imagining a Mumsnet full of what appears to be a 2-decades-earlier version of Margot from 'The Good Life', all hoiking their judgy pants about staff having the temerity to use the front door and wondering if it's worth getting a television license when there might not be a suitable number of 'improving' programmes on.

I could get used to 'IABU to dock my daily's wages for bringing a copy of the Mirror to clear the ash pan into?' and threads of that ilk though...

AIBU unreasonable to fire the girl for speaking out of turn? clutches pearls.

The 1950s Good Wife's Guide:

•Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready on time for his return. This is a way of letting him know that you have be thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they get home and the prospect of a good meal is part of the warm welcome needed.
•Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people.
•Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him. His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.
•Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives. Run a dustcloth over the tables.
•During the cooler months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too. After all, catering to his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.
•Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer or vacuum. Encourage the children to be quiet.
•Be happy to see him.
•Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.
•Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first - remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.
•Don't greet him with complaints and problems.
•Don't complain if he's late for dinner or even if he stays out all night. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through at work.
•Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or lie him down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him.
•Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.
•Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him.
•A good wife always knows her place

Sounds amazing

AIBU to wish I was a 1950s upper middle class married man?

Read 'diary of a provincial lady'. Hilarious, and very appropriate to he is thread

Some slightly strange ideas about the 50s on here.

Women first got the vote just after WW1.

Mother's little helpers and tranx? Surely those were expressions that didn't appear until the 60s/70s and I'm pretty sure not every husband was a marital rapist.

For the middle class housewife life in the 50s probably wasn't too bad, if a little unchallenging, for the working class housewife however, probably not so good.

"Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him."

There was me thinking that this was a recent Katy-Perry-inspired thing.

My idea of hell, even in its most facetious version. I'm shuddering just imagining that sort of life. Though I wouldn't mind having staff to do the housework.

Why wouldn't there be oral sex? I don't think that is a modern invention!