Times are changing and today, women are not really bound by the confines of their homes. They definitely have more choices than they did in the past. The choice to either be a homemaker or the choice to step out and work.
But we were shocked to discover how women lived in the past decades. On May 13 1955, Housekeeping Monthlymagazine published an article titled The Good Wife’s Guide. This article talks about a set of rules, which every wife in the 1950s was expected to follow. These rules are not only obnoxious but also boost male chauvinism.
Some rules include, cleaning the house for your man, cooking his favourite meal and make the evening his.
Never complain if he comes home late or goes out to dinner, or other places of entertainment without you. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure, and his very real need to be at home and relax.
It also says, “Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children’s hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair and, if necessary, change their clothes. Children are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part. Minimise all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet.”
And, “you may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first – remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.”
These rules don’t quite fit into our modern society, which encourages women to explore their options and make the most of their opportunities. As an independent working woman of the 21st century we can’t help, but wonder how much women had to suffer in the era gone by. While it does make me wonder if I would have ever been able to follow these rules, it also makes me grateful to be a born in a time that is a wee bit more tolerant.
Images via Superstarlifestyle.com
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