A question for you: is SAHM/D a *job*?

[AllQuietOnThePippisFront]

That's it really.

I don't want to know whether you think it is hard or easy, or harder than being a wohm/d.
All I'm really interested, out of curiosity, is whether you consider it a job. And if not how would you define it?

Thanks

No it is not a job. You don't get paid to do it.

Nope not a job.

It's not a job, you are not paid to look after your children

Good point, but if you don't do it you have to outsource it all to other people and they do get paid for it. Tricky!

Men cannot baby sit their own kids - that's called parenting

Being a SAHP can be hard work but it's not paid employment - it's not a job

Not all jobs are paid. I have a voluntary job. It is a job.

Being a SAHM in my opinion is a job.

And if not "job", which term would you use it to define it?

lifestyle choice?

It's a role, not a job. Similarly caring for someone with a disability or doing voluntary work is a role, not a job, because you don't get paid for it.

why would you need a term to define it other than parenting?

Did I say 'other than parenting'? If for you is parenting that is fine.

Don't you get paid by the council for being a carer for a family member though?

Okay perhaps "role" is a more apt description.

OP, what was the reason behind your question?

It is an amateur (unpaid) role that involves many jobs e.g. washing up, changing nappies, playing etc.

No because you're doing it for yourself (or at least, your family). Same as doing your own cleaning is not a job, but if you pay someone else to do it, it is for them.

It's a choice.

Bucharest, having a paid job is a choice too.

Curiosity really. I saw it coming up on another thread and I was wanted to investigate it more. It seems I could learn from it and could question my view of things.

Occupation. I definitely think it's an occupation. Job? I don't know..

pootles, would those who home-school their children consider that a job? they are doing it for their family members and their are not getting paid and yet...I am genuinely questioning it not trying to cause conflicts here.

When I was a teacher I'm not sure if I'd have described that as a "job" either. It was a professional role involving many jobs.
Washing the floor, sorting out my veg plot, giving the children a snack when they wake etc are all jobs I have/choose to do in my role as "household manager".

dictionary definitions of job
The 'paid employment' meaning is the most common but the others are valid too.

I'm struggling to find a decent definition of 'lifestyle choice' but it doesn't seem to me to be a very useful expression here, because a paid job is a lifestyle choice too.

Why do you care?

You could argue that a SAHP is earning whatever amount it would cost to pay somone to look after their children.