Is 'Housewife' an occupation?

[Soontobe60]

First contestant on Mastermind tonight has given her occupation as housewife. Does that mean she is employed by her husband? She looks too old to have children that need looking after, and if she had an adult disabled child then her occupation would be carer.
Surely in this day and age no one claims that their occupation is housewife?

You want her to say unemployed? That comes with a whole lot of social judgement.

And if she's not looking for work, that's also not quite right.

My MIL now dead sadly described herself as homemaker. What word do you want women like this to use, who have more traditional set ups?

My job we have a list of occupations. Housewife/ husband and home maker are on there.

If you are looking after your own adult disabled child your occupation isn't carer (i mean unless you want to say that) as back to your own point, who is paying her top be a carer.

I find it fascinating how judgemental women can be of each other.

It isn’t a term I would ever use myself, but why shouldn’t she define herself as she wishes?

Well, the dictionary definition is 'a married woman whose main occupation is caring for her family, managing household affairs, and doing housework.'.

I suppose if those activities are what occupies her time then it could be described as an 'occupation'. Although the definition of occupation is 'job or profession' which imply paid labour.

It's actually a bit of a shit thing for mastermind to ask people to specify - they might have contenders who are unemployed, particularly eg disabled or long term sick.

The feminist issue here is more the lack of appropriate terminology and status for necessary but unpaid work, which disproportionately falls to women whether by their choice or by default.

Its what occupies her days so its her occupation.

Why are people defined by what they are paid to do?

Of course it's an occupation. It isn't a paid job, of course (but nor is SAHM, or caring for your own adult disabled child, which you seem to imply would 'count' as occupations) but it is an occupation.

I also think it's weird and unnecessary that they make them state their job. I think they should let them be introduced by a fact about themselves, and if that's their job or the fact they're a housewife fine, but they could also say something more interesting if they want

what Errol said

Paid employment is only a subset of work/occupations.

My occupation is teacher. I spend approximately 25% of my week doing this as I'm part time. Should I change my occupation to something else? I actually spend the greatest proportion of a week asleep, but my occupation isn't somnambulist.
Another contestant gave their occupation as student. So maybe the term should be used to identify what people do during a normal working day as opposed to what they get paid to do?
@Fraggling I know many carers as a result of my job. The vast majority receive carers allowance in order to support them. Being a carer out of the home is a paid job. My intention is not to be judgemental, which is actually what you're being of me!

@LisaSimpsonsbff
I completely agree about having to state their 'occupation' (apart from the fact that we try to guess their occupation before they reveal it- I had her down as a retired civil servant).

@ErrolTheDragon you're absolutely correct. 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?

It all just feels very 1950's Doris Day.

I think it’s an occupation. Not all employment is paid.

people do during a normal working day as opposed to what they get paid to do?

I do fuck all

That would not look good on mastermind

Having said that there is no chance of me going on mastermind so it’s probably ok

I'm not going on mastermind either

OP you haven't said what you would want her to say.

So let's have that please.

I often describe my SAHD hubby as a househusband. He doesn't mind. The house prefix is not just for wife. So yes it's an occupation albeit an unpaid one.

If that is what she wants to describe herself as then why is that a problem. I am a sahm I often have to put homemaker down on forms as that is the only option. Would you prefer she said unemployed? What actual business is it of yours? Up until recently my dh had a massively wanky job title, it didn't describe what he did in any way. I dont really understand why their occupation is relevant.

'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.

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

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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.