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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
Usage
Housewife, homemaker, stay-at-home mom, etc.
Can someone tell me what the difference is between these four terms:
- Housewife
- Homemaker
- Soccer Mom
- Stay-at-home Mom
I would add "Domestic Engineer" to the list, but somehow I doubt that sees any real use.
I think for the first two words, Housewife seems too demeaning (though no one seems to say anything about the fairly new term "househusband"), and Homemaker is too cheesy a term for this generation; many younger people probably think the latter refers to a contractor who builds houses. OTOH, Soccer Mom implies busyness and Stay-at-home Mom (was that term coined by Dr. Laura?) indicates compassion, so those are the preferred titles nowadays.
- Housewife
- Homemaker
- Soccer Mom
- Stay-at-home Mom
I would add "Domestic Engineer" to the list, but somehow I doubt that sees any real use.
I think for the first two words, Housewife seems too demeaning (though no one seems to say anything about the fairly new term "househusband"), and Homemaker is too cheesy a term for this generation; many younger people probably think the latter refers to a contractor who builds houses. OTOH, Soccer Mom implies busyness and Stay-at-home Mom (was that term coined by Dr. Laura?) indicates compassion, so those are the preferred titles nowadays.
Top answer
Lepidopteran wrote on 27 May 2004: [nq:1]Can someone tell me what the difference is between these four terms: - Housewife - Homemaker - Soccer Mom - ... first two words, Housewife seems too demeaning (though no one seems to say anything about the fairly new term "househusband"),[/nq]There's nothing inherently demeaning about "housewife". Your feeling comes from the politics of feeling that that particular social role is little more than glorified domestic servitude, but if you talk to people who grew up with no parent at home, you will probably discover that they are lesser for it despite she-who-was-liberating-herself's (1) political correctness.
- Lepidopteran wrote on 27 May 2004: [nq:1]Can someone tell me what the difference is between these four terms: - Housewife - Homemaker - Soccer Mom - ...
- first two words, Housewife seems too demeaning (though no one seems to say anything about the fairly new term "househusband"),[/nq]There's nothing inherently demeaning about "housewife".
- Your feeling comes from the politics of feeling that that particular social role is little more than glorified domestic servitude, but if you talk to people who grew up with no parent at home, you will probably discover that they are lesser for it despite she-who-was-liberating-herself's (1) political correctness.
- I was a latch-key kid, and even though my mother worked because she could not stand housewifery because it bored her (she was not a political creature and, except for her Brigitte Bardot-like devotion to animals, continues, in her 81st year, to be liberated but not a feminist by any stretch of the imagination), my sister and up grew up feeling that we would have been much better off with what my sister called "a 'mother'-mother" rather than a liberated working mother.
- It certainly could not have been our mother, but our fate was to be the cubs of a genuine she- bear.
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115 Answers
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Lepidopteran wrote on 27 May 2004:
[nq:1]Can someone tell me what the difference is between these four terms: - Housewife - Homemaker - Soccer Mom - ... first two words, Housewife seems too demeaning (though no one seems to say anything about the fairly new term "househusband"),[/nq]There's nothing inherently demeaning about "housewife". Your feeling comes from the politics of feeling that tha
[nq:1]Can someone tell me what the difference is between these four terms: - Housewife - Homemaker - Soccer Mom - ... first two words, Housewife seems too demeaning (though no one seems to say anything about the fairly new term "househusband"),[/nq]There's nothing inherently demeaning about "housewife". Your feeling comes from the politics of feeling that tha
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[nq:1]There's nothing inherently demeaning about "housewife".[/nq]
[nq:1]and even though my mother worked because she could not stand housewifery because it bored her (she was not a ... to animals, continues, in her 81st year, to be liberated but not a feminist by any stretch of the imagination),[/nq]
There is nothing inherently demeaning about feminism, on the contrary.
Lately, I
[nq:1]and even though my mother worked because she could not stand housewifery because it bored her (she was not a ... to animals, continues, in her 81st year, to be liberated but not a feminist by any stretch of the imagination),[/nq]
There is nothing inherently demeaning about feminism, on the contrary.
Lately, I
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Arcadian Rises wrote on 27 May 2004:
[nq:2]There's nothing inherently demeaning about "housewife".[/nq]
[nq:2]and even though my mother worked because she could not ... but not a feminist by any stretch of the imagination),[/nq]
[nq:1]There is nothing inherently demeaning about feminism, on the contrary.[/nq]
All I meant by thisw is that my mother's "liberation" from the traditiona
[nq:2]There's nothing inherently demeaning about "housewife".[/nq]
[nq:2]and even though my mother worked because she could not ... but not a feminist by any stretch of the imagination),[/nq]
[nq:1]There is nothing inherently demeaning about feminism, on the contrary.[/nq]
All I meant by thisw is that my mother's "liberation" from the traditiona
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[nq:1]All I meant by thisw is that my mother's "liberation" from the traditional stay-at-home-mother role was the result not of ... life was a source of serious discontent about which she was personally compelled to do something private, personal, and individual.[/nq]
Sorry, I didn't intend to discuss your mother's choices. By the way you described her, she is an admirable woman.
Sorry, I didn't intend to discuss your mother's choices. By the way you described her, she is an admirable woman.
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[nq:1]Arcadian Rises wrote on 27 May 2004:[/nq]
[nq:2]Lately, I heard many women claiming to be liberated but, right away dissociating themselves from feminism as though feminism were a plague.[/nq]
[nq:1]It is a plague in some respects because of the way it has been interpreted, just as Christianity, the so-called ... use it as a justification for all the horrible things done in its name
[nq:2]Lately, I heard many women claiming to be liberated but, right away dissociating themselves from feminism as though feminism were a plague.[/nq]
[nq:1]It is a plague in some respects because of the way it has been interpreted, just as Christianity, the so-called ... use it as a justification for all the horrible things done in its name
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On 28 May 2004 04:09:27 GMT, CyberCypher
[nq:1]Feminism is not merely passé; it is a cultish fringe pilosphy and political movement that is no longer of value in the Western world.[/nq]
Nah. It's women that got tired of knocking at the door and being refused admittance. So they kicked the **** thing down. Someone had to do it.
[nq:1]Feminism is not merely passé; it is a cultish fringe pilosphy and political movement that is no longer of value in the Western world.[/nq]
Nah. It's women that got tired of knocking at the door and being refused admittance. So they kicked the **** thing down. Someone had to do it.
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Arcadian Rises wrote on 27 May 2004:
[nq:2]All I meant by thisw is that my mother's "liberation" ... was personally compelled to do something private, personal, and individual.[/nq]
[nq:1]Sorry, I didn't intend to discuss your mother's choices.[/nq]
No problem. I discuss them because philosophy and politics in the abstract are pure ***; they take on significance only when they are put
[nq:2]All I meant by thisw is that my mother's "liberation" ... was personally compelled to do something private, personal, and individual.[/nq]
[nq:1]Sorry, I didn't intend to discuss your mother's choices.[/nq]
No problem. I discuss them because philosophy and politics in the abstract are pure ***; they take on significance only when they are put
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Arcadian Rises wrote on 27 May 2004:
[nq:2]Arcadian Rises wrote on 27 May 2004: It is a ... done in its name throughout history and at the moment.[/nq]
[nq:1]Oh my, I didn't know that feminism was that bad throughout history causing all the horrible things, perhaps even a genocide?[/nq]
Feminism has been as bad as organized religion and the political ambitions of crazed men, I'll agree
[nq:2]Arcadian Rises wrote on 27 May 2004: It is a ... done in its name throughout history and at the moment.[/nq]
[nq:1]Oh my, I didn't know that feminism was that bad throughout history causing all the horrible things, perhaps even a genocide?[/nq]
Feminism has been as bad as organized religion and the political ambitions of crazed men, I'll agree
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I forgot to add the footnote, so this is an update.
[nq:1]Lepidopteran wrote on 27 May 2004:[/nq]
[nq:2]I think for the first two words, Housewife seems too demeaning>[/nq]
[nq:1]There's nothing inherently demeaning about "housewife". Your feeling comes from the politics of feeling that that particular social role is ... certainly could not have been our mother, but our fate was to
[nq:1]Lepidopteran wrote on 27 May 2004:[/nq]
[nq:2]I think for the first two words, Housewife seems too demeaning>[/nq]
[nq:1]There's nothing inherently demeaning about "housewife". Your feeling comes from the politics of feeling that that particular social role is ... certainly could not have been our mother, but our fate was to
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[nq:1]There's nothing inherently demeaning about "housewife". Your feeling comes from the politics of feeling that that particular social role is ... with no parent at home, you will probably discover that they are lesser for it despite she-who-was-liberating-herself's (1) political correctness.[/nq]
Yes, a good example of "despite she".
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
Yes, a good example of "despite she".
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
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