The Myth Of The Stay-At-Home Wife
In today’s world of liberated women and #YesAllMen, the stay-at-home wife seems an outdated and demeaning surrender to the patriarchy. History, however, paints a far different picture.
The ability to stay at home is a recent novelty, first truly enabled by the economic prosperity of the 1950s. Since then, the housewife has become a role that many women are fortunate enough to be able to choose. This freedom from full-time work allows for more time with their children, a greater focus on the home, and the ability to explore a wide variety of creative endeavors.
A Brief History of the Stay-at-Home Wife
During the Victorian Era, many working-class women had to work outside of the home in order to help support their families. The average woman went to work in a factory, served in the home of a wealthier family, or engaged in home-based work (i.e. garment mending). According to censuses from England, over a third of married women were working for outside pay. These women also had to tend to their own households, so days were long and demanding.