Some time ago, a certain “big shot” brought up that full-time home makers, especially those highly-educated ones, should get out to work and contribute to the society and economy, instead of rotting away at home. This sparked off lots of rage from the home makers involved.
When I saw that forum on television, I, too, was filled with fury. What right do people have to say that full-time home makers are useless just because they do not work? In fact, I salute those women who are willing to give up high-flying and challenging careers and duo-income lifestyles to stay home, raise children, downgrade to single-income and simplify their lifestyles. That, I think, is the noblest job of all.
Strangely, this was targeted only at those average families where only the husbands work. It did not seem to include those socialites where the ladies married into wealthy families therefore no need to work. But is the concept not the same? Husbands work, wives do not work, and depend on the husbands to bring home the bacon.
So why the discrimination? In my opinion, full-time housewives actually have a more useful job as they dedicate their lives to creating a happy and conducive environment for the family and grooming the younger generation so they can be pillars to the society, whereas socialites entertain, shop and just plain enjoy lives.
This forum was so brought about due to the increasing number of educated women who left behind high-flying careers and became stay-home mums. People always think that housewives are those women who are lowly-educated and not able to find work, thus have to resort to staying at home. But now, it is the more higher-educated women, some with even Master degrees, who gave up everything for the family.
Many people say these women are crazy, as they gave up very well-paying jobs and waste their qualifications to stay at home. I always feel that academic qualifications and a job is nothing compared to bringing up well-behaved kids who make the parents and teachers proud.
It is no longer such a case that only women who are not able to find jobs have to stay at home. It is the educated women nowadays who want to be stay-home mums. I know of a few who really gave up their jobs as they say nothing gives them greater pleasure than to be by their kids’ sides.
Perhaps mothers staying home are for the best of the kids. The kids will not be neglected as they have the security of knowing their mummies will be at home waiting for them, taking care of them, and ensuring they are well-supervised in their school work, and ferrying them to their various activities.
Of course, there is a danger of taking care of the kid too much and making the kid overly-reliant on the mum. But I guess it is all subjective. Most mothers I know who stay home full-time, especially the more educated ones, more or less manage to raise very good and intelligent kids. I come from a family where both my parents work very long hours, but I do not think I am doing that badly, or am I? So perhaps it is all to do with the upbringing, how the children ultimately turn out.
When I saw that forum on television, I, too, was filled with fury. What right do people have to say that full-time home makers are useless just because they do not work? In fact, I salute those women who are willing to give up high-flying and challenging careers and duo-income lifestyles to stay home, raise children, downgrade to single-income and simplify their lifestyles. That, I think, is the noblest job of all.
Strangely, this was targeted only at those average families where only the husbands work. It did not seem to include those socialites where the ladies married into wealthy families therefore no need to work. But is the concept not the same? Husbands work, wives do not work, and depend on the husbands to bring home the bacon.
So why the discrimination? In my opinion, full-time housewives actually have a more useful job as they dedicate their lives to creating a happy and conducive environment for the family and grooming the younger generation so they can be pillars to the society, whereas socialites entertain, shop and just plain enjoy lives.
This forum was so brought about due to the increasing number of educated women who left behind high-flying careers and became stay-home mums. People always think that housewives are those women who are lowly-educated and not able to find work, thus have to resort to staying at home. But now, it is the more higher-educated women, some with even Master degrees, who gave up everything for the family.
Many people say these women are crazy, as they gave up very well-paying jobs and waste their qualifications to stay at home. I always feel that academic qualifications and a job is nothing compared to bringing up well-behaved kids who make the parents and teachers proud.
It is no longer such a case that only women who are not able to find jobs have to stay at home. It is the educated women nowadays who want to be stay-home mums. I know of a few who really gave up their jobs as they say nothing gives them greater pleasure than to be by their kids’ sides.
Perhaps mothers staying home are for the best of the kids. The kids will not be neglected as they have the security of knowing their mummies will be at home waiting for them, taking care of them, and ensuring they are well-supervised in their school work, and ferrying them to their various activities.
Of course, there is a danger of taking care of the kid too much and making the kid overly-reliant on the mum. But I guess it is all subjective. Most mothers I know who stay home full-time, especially the more educated ones, more or less manage to raise very good and intelligent kids. I come from a family where both my parents work very long hours, but I do not think I am doing that badly, or am I? So perhaps it is all to do with the upbringing, how the children ultimately turn out.
3 comments:
You see, if both parents work, the average income per family will also rise, giving the illusion of 'prosperity', while keeping the pay low.
Wow! that family makes $3000 per month after GST! (nevermind that each worker only brings $1500 back)
Blagh.. I meant to say CPF.
Anyway, I currently would prefer a wife that wants to have a career.
Or even better, a hobby that can be turned around into a mini business.
Yes, that would be good isn't it? It'd be nice to have a hobby that can generate income too. So at least you get to do what you like while earning a keep.
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