What is so wrong with being a housewife?

[Afro-Sheen]

@Mehnaz

I think I would be more willing to believe this if the laws were the same all over the world. Unfortunately, they aren’t. You are very fortunate to be in Australia cause they provide flexibility to parents who have kids under the age of 5. I would go as far as saying the same thing to people who reside in Europe. They get a minimum of 6 weeks vacation which works out great if you have kids cause it allows a parent to take vacation during their kids summer holidays, which I believe is also 6 weeks. In Canada, by law, all you get is 2 weeks vacation from work. If you have kids, too bad. It is really rare to find a company that is flexible and undestanding if you have kids, are a single parent, etc. Plus there aren’t any government incentives, at least here, to have 2 incomes coming in. That’s why I am weary of believing that most women work just for the joy of it after having kids. It’s hard to balance when the laws, company policies, etc. don’t really support you or encourage flexibility in your timetable, if you know what I mean. Of course, the type of job you do plays a huge factor as well. I don’t believe teachers would have the same issue with vacation timings with say someone who works in a firm. I’m just trying to look at this from another point of view.

Also, everybody is getting upset about the Freeloader comment. In all honesty, no “man” will say this to his wife or even treat his wife like she’s freeloading, especially not a Pakistani man who normally has it ingrained in him from childhood that it’s his job as a “mard” to take care of his wife and children. That being said, I do believe that an abusive or narcissistic individual will have no issues bashing his spouse for being a “freeloader”.

Girls do have a lot of Pride when it comes to earning money, especially if they were earning on their own beforehand. Lekin, I don’t believe this will become an issue in a marriage due to the reasons I stated above unless the husband continuously gives taanay about how he had to spend money on a necessity for her … which again, most guys won’t do unless they are kanjoos or abusive.

Good post. However, even in a country like USA/Canada where the same benefits are not provided to working mothers…there are ladies who really do enjoy their careers and do not want to give them up just yet. For example, I have a friend who had her son right before graduating from med school (Like 2 weeks before). She was thinking of holding off on residency for some time, BUT her mother encouraged her not to quit as she had gotten residency at a good hospital..etc. Now MA, she is doing fellowship/specialization in cardiology and still working. Her son is MA very intelligent, well adjusted, loving caring child. Yes she had the support of her hubby etc but still she did not quit because medicine is her passion. She manages her time well. Not everything is so black & white. Like someone else said, to each their own.