FitChick Posted May 3, 2012 Posted May 3, 2012 Following on the housewives thread, I thought this article was interesting. Not only do high-powered, successful men want a stay at home wife, but their female counterparts do as well. So clearly it's an important job. I think many of the passive, timid men on here might be better as househusbands. As time goes on, since more women than men will be graduating with degrees, which means they will be getting more of the top jobs, this will become an option for many men.
january2011 Posted May 3, 2012 Posted May 3, 2012 since more women than men will be graduating with degrees, which means they will be getting more of the top jobs Ah, if only this were true! I believe that the trends indicate that women are better educated on the whole, but unfortunately, I don't think they necessarily translate into more women getting better jobs. I think one of the interviewee's comments about "easy" versus "possible" is apt here. I'm leaning towards the points made in the article's last paragraph about the economic crisis affecting male-dominated industries.
EasyHeart Posted May 3, 2012 Posted May 3, 2012 Sign me up!!! I'd do it in a heartbeat. The problem is reality: most women aren't looking for a househusband. I'm very envious of my male colleagues who have a wife to run their household. All they have to do is think about work and their wives take care of everything else. That would be awesome!!! 1
Author FitChick Posted May 3, 2012 Author Posted May 3, 2012 I believe that the trends indicate that women are better educated on the whole, but unfortunately, I don't think they necessarily translate into more women getting better jobs. I think one of the interviewee's comments about "easy" versus "possible" is apt here. Most mothers aren't willing to put in the hours required and, if they are divorced, don't have help at home even if they wanted to put in those long hours and travel, so I can see why they wouldn't advance. It's a trade-off. During WWII women did men's jobs because men weren't available. If there aren't enough qualified men to fill management positions in the future, businesses will have to hire women or go under. Let's not forget that this won't happen overnight. It takes twenty-five or thirty years of hard work before someone becomes a CEO. However, as fewer women want kids, they will have more time to devote to their careers.
wwwjd Posted May 3, 2012 Posted May 3, 2012 Following on the housewives thread, I thought this article was interesting. Not only do high-powered, successful men want a stay at home wife, but their female counterparts do as well. So clearly it's an important job. I think many of the passive, timid men on here might be better as househusbands. As time goes on, since more women than men will be graduating with degrees, which means they will be getting more of the top jobs, this will become an option for many men. And women will start dominating in the armies also at that time. ? I enjoy bringing home the bacon meself (because I can't give birth), but if a well off woman wanted me to house husband, I'd do it. After the maintence is done (2 hours max each day), I have so many hobbies I would LOVE to enjoy a lot more. Sunning at the pool being one of them. When she gets home, I'd listen about her day, rub her back and feet, cook her a meal and later practice procreating with her every night. Meanwhile, I'm hanging out with the househusbands, watching daytime sports (since the networks would have to drop all the soaps since we don't watch that crap), writing/recording new music in my private studio, motorcycle racing at the track and skydiving as weather allows... then I'd make it home in time to kiss her at the door. But I'm not a passive timid man on here. 2
wwwjd Posted May 3, 2012 Posted May 3, 2012 S The problem is reality: most women aren't looking for a househusband. You are a sexist. BAHAHHAHHAHAAA according to this place. This place about men and women.... not androgenous asexual beings
january2011 Posted May 3, 2012 Posted May 3, 2012 (edited) Most mothers aren't willing to put in the hours required and, if they are divorced, don't have help at home even if they wanted to put in those long hours and travel, so I can see why they wouldn't advance. It's a trade-off. During WWII women did men's jobs because men weren't available. If there aren't enough qualified men to fill management positions in the future, businesses will have to hire women or go under. Let's not forget that this won't happen overnight. It takes twenty-five or thirty years of hard work before someone becomes a CEO. However, as fewer women want kids, they will have more time to devote to their careers. Fitchick - I think you make good points about trade-offs and that it takes a few decades for these trends to show. But I'm not a passive timid man on here. Yes, from experience, I don't think that there are enough SAHMs who are passive and timid women to support the theory that those are the defining characteristics for people who stay at home. I believe that economic conditions are a better indicator of the likelihood of 'stay-at-home-ness' than personality. From what I've witnesed, SAHMs have to be even more bolshy than their boardroom counterparts. Wrangling kids is much harder than wrangling execs - at least execs are fairly reasonable, most of the time. Edited May 3, 2012 by january2011
RiverRunning Posted May 3, 2012 Posted May 3, 2012 Following on the housewives thread, I thought this article was interesting. Not only do high-powered, successful men want a stay at home wife, but their female counterparts do as well. So clearly it's an important job. I think many of the passive, timid men on here might be better as househusbands. As time goes on, since more women than men will be graduating with degrees, which means they will be getting more of the top jobs, this will become an option for many men. Not necessarily. If anything, I'd say it makes it more likely that the relatively few men in comparison who have degrees are more likely to get promoted. Those guys will have less competition than they did in the past, when men out-competed women in getting higher degrees. The vast, vast majority of Fortune 500 companies are still dominated by men. People tend to promote people who are like themselves...which can explain the robust number of white men (especially old white men) in positions of power. Let's not forget the glass elevator too - men in lady-dominated fields tend to get rapidly promoted to the top. Meanwhile, there's the glass ceiling for women...
zengirl Posted May 3, 2012 Posted May 3, 2012 Sign me up!!! I'd do it in a heartbeat. The problem is reality: most women aren't looking for a househusband. I'm very envious of my male colleagues who have a wife to run their household. All they have to do is think about work and their wives take care of everything else. That would be awesome!!! Well, neither are most men these days, but the only SAH folks I know are HHs, so some women do want them. One of the gals I know with a HH is a partner at a major law firm and another is VP at a major company. I don't have any problem with a very successful person wanting a SAH spouse, honestly --- in many cases, it makes sense. Clearly, some power couples work it out, but if you find someone to be the yin to your yang, why not?
Ursa Posted May 3, 2012 Posted May 3, 2012 And women will start dominating in the armies also at that time. ? I enjoy bringing home the bacon meself (because I can't give birth), but if a well off woman wanted me to house husband, I'd do it. After the maintence is done (2 hours max each day), I have so many hobbies I would LOVE to enjoy a lot more. Sunning at the pool being one of them. When she gets home, I'd listen about her day, rub her back and feet, cook her a meal and later practice procreating with her every night. Meanwhile, I'm hanging out with the househusbands, watching daytime sports (since the networks would have to drop all the soaps since we don't watch that crap), writing/recording new music in my private studio, motorcycle racing at the track and skydiving as weather allows... then I'd make it home in time to kiss her at the door. But I'm not a passive timid man on here. Are we equating SAHParent and housespouse? People often do, and the experiences are pretty different. I spent two years as a full-time "housewife"/SAHM with an infant/toddler, plus an older child. The above was not exactly my experience. I know several at-home-husbands, as I tend to associate with a circle where it's common for whoever makes less money to stay home for a few years when the kids are small. My brother-in-law is a SAHD to three small girls. He's very good at it. I have a neighbor who is a SAHD to a boy about the same age as my own son, and an old friend of mine from high school recently went back to work after three years at home with his twin babies. I can't think of any househusbands who are not at-home-parents, that I know personally. I don't consider being unemployed-but-looking for a long stretch of time the same thing as being a deliberate housespouse. 1
manup Posted May 3, 2012 Posted May 3, 2012 Ah, if only this were true! I believe that the trends indicate that women are better educated on the whole, but unfortunately, I don't think they necessarily translate into more women getting better jobs. I think one of the interviewee's comments about "easy" versus "possible" is apt here. I'm leaning towards the points made in the article's last paragraph about the economic crisis affecting male-dominated industries. You're spot on, men still dominate technical jobs and will still make more money. Coupled with the fact that women still need time for child bearing it really makes a mess of things.
pink_sugar Posted May 3, 2012 Posted May 3, 2012 Yeah, unfortunately gender discrimination is still an issue. Men are still getting paid slightly more than women, so them getting all jobs probably wouldn't be happening.
manup Posted May 3, 2012 Posted May 3, 2012 Yeah, unfortunately gender discrimination is still an issue. Men are still getting paid slightly more than women, so them getting all jobs probably wouldn't be happening. Because men on average work more hours and are in professions that should require more pay.
threebyfate Posted May 3, 2012 Posted May 3, 2012 You're spot on, men still dominate technical jobs and will still make more money. Coupled with the fact that women still need time for child bearing it really makes a mess of things.Child bearing rarely takes over 72 hours. Child minding is a lifetime commitment which in the case of househusband, they're fully capable of child minding. The above said, I personally have no interest in househusbands, as well as being disinterested in being a SAHM. Brain rot isn't what I've signed up for in life.
Author FitChick Posted May 3, 2012 Author Posted May 3, 2012 The vast, vast majority of Fortune 500 companies are still dominated by men. People tend to promote people who are like themselves...which can explain the robust number of white men (especially old white men) in positions of power.That is because thirty years ago there weren't as many women and minorities as now working their way up the ladder. I'm very envious of my male colleagues who have a wife to run their household. All they have to do is think about work and their wives take care of everything else. And that is the value of a stay at home wife. Most successful men say their wives were instrumental in their success for that very reason.
wwwjd Posted May 3, 2012 Posted May 3, 2012 Child bearing rarely takes over 72 hours. Child minding is a lifetime commitment which in the case of househusband, they're fully capable of child minding. The above said, I personally have no interest in househusbands, as well as being disinterested in being a SAHM. Brain rot isn't what I've signed up for in life. It's only brain rot if YOU let it be. 2
threebyfate Posted May 3, 2012 Posted May 3, 2012 It's only brain rot if YOU let it be.Have you ever been a SAHM?
zengirl Posted May 3, 2012 Posted May 3, 2012 That is because thirty years ago there weren't as many women and minorities as now working their way up the ladder. And that is the value of a stay at home wife. Most successful men say their wives were instrumental in their success for that very reason. Right. Agree entirely that this is the case. We will see what the landscape looks like 30 years from now. SAHDs are becoming far more common than they were, for instance.
Star Gazer Posted May 3, 2012 Posted May 3, 2012 Have you ever been a SAHM? Have you? Nope. And using a nanny, you don't even do your own "child minding." FWIW, some of the most intelligent women I know are homemakers. 4
Woggle Posted May 3, 2012 Posted May 3, 2012 I don't want to be a house husband nor do I want a stay at home wife.
zengirl Posted May 3, 2012 Posted May 3, 2012 Have you? Nope. And using a nanny, you don't even do your own "child minding." FWIW, some of the most intelligent women I know are homemakers. So are some of the most intelligent men I know! So, agreed. Geez, why hate on homemaking? The whole point of social change was choices, no? Staying at home can lead to frustrating isolation and a lack of intelligent, adult company, sure --- sounds like no fun sometimes --- but I don't think that it necessarily has to all the time. Plenty of homemakers do vital work. 1
Ursa Posted May 3, 2012 Posted May 3, 2012 Have you ever been a SAHM? I have. I didn't notice appreciable brain deterioration. It's fair enough to point out that being a SAHM can be isolating, and there is a lack of many different stimuli and a surfeit of others. It's certainly not for everyone. 1
dasein Posted May 3, 2012 Posted May 3, 2012 I'd be a perfect househusband, working from home now as it is. If she worked long and hard enough, I could do away with my own work entirely. Hey I can dream, can't I?
threebyfate Posted May 3, 2012 Posted May 3, 2012 It's fair enough to point out that being a SAHM can be isolating, and there is a lack of many different stimuli and a surfeit of others. It's certainly not for everyone.There are only so many hours in a day where a SAHM's focus will be on the needs of their children and husbands' with a domestic orientation. IMO, drudgery.
Star Gazer Posted May 3, 2012 Posted May 3, 2012 And that is the value of a stay at home wife. Most successful men say their wives were instrumental in their success for that very reason. That's not the ONLY value...
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