MelissaA
Brenton
Shilpa Karhik
Home Economics For Women In The 1950's
July 31st 2007 00:40
From a 1950's high school home economics textbook, teaching girls how to prepare for married life.
1. Have dinner ready: Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal on time.
This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him, and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospects of a good meal are part of the warm welcome needed.
2. Prepare yourself: Take 15 minutes to rest so you will be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking.
He has just been with a lot of work- weary people. Be a little gay and a little more interesting. His boring day may need a lift.
3. Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives, gathering up school books, toys, paper, etc. Then run a dust cloth over the tables.
Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift, too.
4. 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.
They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part.
5. Minimize the noise: At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of washer, dryer, dishwasher or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet.
Be happy to see him. Greet him with a warm smile and be glad to see him.
6. Things to avoid: Don't greet him with problems or complaints. Don't complain if he's late for dinner.
Count this as minor compared with what he might have gone through that day.
7. Make him comfortable: Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or suggest he lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him. Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes.
Speak in a low, soft, soothing and pleasant voice. Allow him to relax and unwind.
8. Listen to him: You may have a dozen things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first.
9. Make the evening his: Never complain if he does not take you out to dinner or to other places of entertainment; instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure, his need to be home and relax.
10. The goal: Try to make your home a place of peace and order where your husband can relax.
This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him, and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospects of a good meal are part of the warm welcome needed.
2. Prepare yourself: Take 15 minutes to rest so you will be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking.
He has just been with a lot of work- weary people. Be a little gay and a little more interesting. His boring day may need a lift.
3. Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives, gathering up school books, toys, paper, etc. Then run a dust cloth over the tables.
Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift, too.
4. 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.
They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part.
5. Minimize the noise: At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of washer, dryer, dishwasher or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet.
Be happy to see him. Greet him with a warm smile and be glad to see him.
6. Things to avoid: Don't greet him with problems or complaints. Don't complain if he's late for dinner.
Count this as minor compared with what he might have gone through that day.
7. Make him comfortable: Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or suggest he lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him. Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes.
Speak in a low, soft, soothing and pleasant voice. Allow him to relax and unwind.
8. Listen to him: You may have a dozen things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first.
9. Make the evening his: Never complain if he does not take you out to dinner or to other places of entertainment; instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure, his need to be home and relax.
10. The goal: Try to make your home a place of peace and order where your husband can relax.
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Comment by Chic Critique
Comment by Nickoftime's Sanity Corner
oh my, women back then may have followed these rules for organization, but today? Women have to juggle kids, a career, husbands, households, school, activities, etc.
They wouldn't be able to sit around the house all day and make up lists to help organize their time because they wouldn't have any to spare!
LOL
Great read!
Take care,
Nick
Comment by Anonymous
Thanks for the oldie but goodie.
Lori
Comment by Nye
Comment by John R
PS - Not a snowflake's chance in hell would ANY person tolerate this!
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Comment by Anonymous
YOU GET WHAT YOU GIVE LADIES!
Comment by aspired
Comment by Anonymous
This is so funny, i am studding women in the workforce at school, so funny, he he
Comment by Anonymous
Cheers!
Comment by Anonymous
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Comment by Anonymous
How bout we reverse it and he can do those things for me!
hahahaha!!
Comment by Anonymous
I wish we could go back to doing things wrong. Things seemed be so right back then.
Equality? It's a mantra of pure nonsense. It sounds noble but it is flawed.
It's not a matter of equality but role responsibility. Innate differences in a man and a woman fit them to fulfil certain roles. When each person does their part, though those parts are different, it works.
I wish people would study history and see how well the old traditional role of wife and husband still works. Instead of beleiving the fabricated and exagerated lies of the liberal movement.
We don't condone abuse or any such foolishness.
Most of the woman I know that are blessed enough to have a husband provide for them and treat them just like a lady do not want any bitter NOW member messing up their good deal!
Comment by Anonymous
"It's not a matter of equality but role responsibility. Innate differences in a man and a woman fit them to fulfil certain roles." very well said
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Comment by Anonymous
women these days piss me off.
lucky my wife does all these things or i would divorce her
who has a time machine???
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Good luck men!
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Comment by Anonymous
The problem with this is that EVERY woman was expected to do these things, in that specific way. The social pressure and expectation of the 1950's wasn't a GOOD thing. You were expected to be perfect, every single day, you weren't important, you had no voice, no equality, no aspirations. You were just a woman, nothing more. That's the problem. We weren't EQUAL, we were below men. If you people can't see that, then I think there's something wrong with you.
I'm a woman, and yeah I want kids and a husband, but I'm not going to slave all day and then pretend that his work was harder than my own. I want a job, a career, aspriations and a voice. And I have that because social roles like the above were challenged and in many way dissolved. Thank you Women's Liberation Movement, because now at least in many ways, I'm equal to men.
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Comment by Real man
This amount of presentation does presume that the wife isn't also full time employed with a career. just keep in mind, O you women, that romance isn't a one way street. Many of the comments I read seem to be of women driving to a divorce attorney.
When you constantly tell a man that he isn't important you are telling him he isn't loved. You then are the sabotager of your own happiness. You will have no one to blame but yourself.
If you want to have a husband who becomes an important man then you have to treat him as he is already important. And you have to demand that you be treated the same way.
If you want to be loved then you have to act in a way that is going to elicit that. this guide has the woman as the prize of the mans day.
From a mans point of view.
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by Anonymous
I think most of us commenting here are missing an important point, there is no "right" way. Or if there is, it is awfully arrogant of any individual or group of individuals to assume they know what it is any better than the next individual or group. To those of you who prefer to be "modern women" or prefer to marry "modern women", more power to you! I believe the Women's Lib movement was absolutely crucial to equality. No one, no race, no gender, no sexuality, should have to live with fewer rights than anyone else. If you want to work, work! And you deserve the same compensation for the same work! If you and your husband decide the husband should stay home and raise the family, great! Or if you prefer to split things 50/50 I applaud you as well, so long as it brings you happiness.
And the reverse is true as well. If women choose, and the key word is choose, to take-on a more traditional role, they have every right to do so. If a woman happens to find satisfaction and pride in knowing that she has done her part in the family as she deems appropriate, wonderful. There are women who find a great deal of power and strength in playing that traditional role. In my humble opinion that role is just as crucial, if not more so than any other in the family dynamic.
The problem lies in the fact that women take so much pride in whichever lifestyle they choose, while at the same time being criticized from the "opposing" point of view, that they lash-out. Criticizing the other, when there is no reason to. Being a modern woman does not make you better or worse. Smarter or dumber. Or any more or less capable. And neither does being a more traditional woman. That's what equality means. Or at least means to me.
Oh, and I also wanted to mention that there are TONS of relationships now where women are the more dominant one. And I also have no problem with that, once again, so long as everyone is happy!
Comment by Anonymous
I think most of us commenting here are missing an important point, there is no "right" way. Or if there is, it is awfully arrogant of any individual or group of individuals to assume they know what it is any better than the next individual or group. To those of you who prefer to be "modern women" or prefer to marry "modern women", more power to you! I believe the Women's Lib movement was absolutely crucial to equality. No one, no race, no gender, no sexuality, should have to live with fewer rights than anyone else. If you want to work, work! And you deserve the same compensation for the same work! If you and your husband decide the husband should stay home and raise the family, great! Or if you prefer to split things 50/50 I applaud you as well, so long as it brings you happiness.
And the reverse is true as well. If women choose, and the key word is choose, to take-on a more traditional role, they have every right to do so. If a woman happens to find satisfaction and pride in knowing that she has done her part in the family as she deems appropriate, wonderful. There are women who find a great deal of power and strength in playing that traditional role. In my humble opinion that role is just as crucial, if not more so than any other in the family dynamic.
The problem lies in the fact that women take so much pride in whichever lifestyle they choose, while at the same time being criticized from the "opposing" point of view, that they lash-out. Criticizing the other, when there is no reason to. Being a modern woman does not make you better or worse. Smarter or dumber. Or any more or less capable. And neither does being a more traditional woman. That's what equality means. Or at least means to me.
Oh, and I also wanted to mention that there are TONS of relationships now where women are the more dominant one. And I also have no problem with that, once again, so long as everyone is happy!
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by Anonymous
However, those of us that do or have worked out of the home, we know how nice it is to come home and have a clean, happy home. To not be bombarded with talk or problems and to have a few minutes to relax. I think that is being considerate, not subordinate. Why shouldn't I take the last few minutes to fix up myself and the children? My spouse will want hugs and kisses. Not runny noses and sweaty faces.
Why shouldn't I have dinner ready? That is my JOB. To take care of my family, and when the provider (or king) of the castle comes home, my job as the homemaker is to have dinner.
I don't understand why so many women want to say, why should I? What if your husband says why should he? Why should he come home to fast food, grubby children, a dirty house and a nagging grumpy wife? There isn't even a societal stigma against divorce to keep him there. Why wouldn't you make an effort to let him know that you love him and value him? If you can do that for him, he can do that for you.
I do work outside the home. But, my spouse and I dream of when I can stay home, we can have babies and I can by a housewife. A title that I will accept with pride. Yes, I will wake up early enough to make breakfast, yes, I will have dinner on the table and fresh dessert made.
I will have a vegetable garden, and a clothes line and I will do everything in my power to save us as much money as possible. Because that will be the role that we've decided will be mine.
I'm so proud of the advances and the freedoms that women have now. However, I should still be allowed the freedom to choose to stay home, just as you should have the freedome to work.
We live in a society that tells women that no matter what...they are wrong. You can't ever make the right decision, if you work people say you should stay home. If you stay home, people say you should work. Let go of the desire to gain approval from others, cause you never will.
For me and my family, I will honor my spouse and treat them like the king. And I know that I will be treated like a queen in return. And, yes, I will be considerate of the wants and desires of my partner in life. If that means that I am subordinate, so be it.
Comment by Anonymous
Men DESPISE coming home to a lazy, nagging wife just as much as women hate dealing with an unmotivated, jobless jerk of a husband. So you have to ask yourself....do you want a happy marriage, or a miserable one? Obviously, we would much prefer a happy marriage, so why not do your best to make your spouse happy!
And if you ARE doing everything you can to make them happy...and they are still a jerk....then they dont deserve you.
Comment by Cassidy
Comment by Anonymous
Guess what, Christian or not, this world was founded on Adam and Eve-HIS HELP MEET! Woman was created so that man was not alone and to HELP him. NOT to boss him around, be a spoiled brat, control all the money and the hubby.
I think the above article is a perfect example of what a woman should be. I used to wear "the pants" and have a career-and I was never satisfied. If ladies would just realize that being a wife is not torture or mistreatment of any kind. The man's job is to provide, protect, etc. The woman is different from the man. She has a special job too. Why is her job inferior? Women's Lib has got everyone thinking that being a servant is a bad thing. A woman goes and works as a waitress and serves all day, then has to come home and make dinner, try to be a mom for an hour, try to play wife for an hour, BUT she got a paycheck and so that's what is important! NO-she could have stayed home serving her family and making a home. This is the problem with families, or should I say lack of them, today.
Yes, there will be women who work. I don't think you can honestly say that every family could live on one income without proper planning. There are some women who choose not to marry or have children, some women who are widowed, who has husbands that are ill, or whose children are grown. I am not knocking anyone who has to work. But I think that many women could be a stay at home mom with proper planning, getting priorities straight, and some sacrificing.
Comment by Anonymous
Guess what, Christian or not, this world was founded on Adam and Eve-HIS HELP MEET! Woman was created so that man was not alone and to HELP him. NOT to boss him around, be a spoiled brat, control all the money and the hubby.
I think the above article is a perfect example of what a woman should be. I used to wear "the pants" and have a career-and I was never satisfied. If ladies would just realize that being a wife is not torture or mistreatment of any kind. The man's job is to provide, protect, etc. The woman is different from the man. She has a special job too. Why is her job inferior? Women's Lib has got everyone thinking that being a servant is a bad thing. A woman goes and works as a waitress and serves all day, then has to come home and make dinner, try to be a mom for an hour, try to play wife for an hour, BUT she got a paycheck and so that's what is important! NO-she could have stayed home serving her family and making a home. This is the problem with families, or should I say lack of them, today.
Yes, there will be women who work. I don't think you can honestly say that every family could live on one income without proper planning. There are some women who choose not to marry or have children, some women who are widowed, who has husbands that are ill, or whose children are grown. I am not knocking anyone who has to work. But I think that many women could be a stay at home mom with proper planning, getting priorities straight, and some sacrificing.
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by Anonymous
I think we should have some respect for the natural equality that existed back then. Many marriages were far happier as it was clear what everyone's role was. Why isn't the role of raising beautiful people to be proud of enough for some women? Why am i looked down upon because I want to be a housewife?
I haven't made the choice because I like to be a slave, or because I'm too lazy to get a job. I made my career decision and I think that more women need to respect that decision.
I am not saying that I follow all of the above guidelines, but most of it can be adapted to modern times. I try to plan my meals- It's sensible shopping. I usually have a drink poured for my hubby because I pour one for him when I pour one for myself just before he gets home.I try to have bub happy just because it makes getting tea easier. I usually have a smile for him because I'm happy to see him. And I've usually got the house in order because it means I don't have to worry bout it after tea! It all makes my life easier and it means he doesn't have to walk in to chaos so it's win win
Comment by Blakefromcolorado
Comment by Anonymous
I enjoy taking care of my husband and our 2 kids.
I take care of him to show how very much I appreciate how hard he works to support us.
He has always noticed how hard I work and very much I do everyday to ensure that he can come home to a place where he can really relax and unwind from the stresses of the day.
I have worked before and after years of trying to juggle working as a paramedic ands carring for a family and house we came to the realization that our family simply works better with a full time parent and a full time provider.
I wouldn't have it any other way.
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If something makes you happy and you're not hurting anyone else, then what is wrong with it? I LOVE cooking and looking after my fiance. I am an intelligent, equal, loved part of our life, as is he. I don't go as far as to take off his shoes etc, he is more than capable of doing that for himself, he also does his share of helping around the house, he takes care of the lawns, rubbish, cooks on occasion etc.
Each to their own, just because I want to take care of my man/future children doesn't make me any less of an equal. And just because you chose to work and not be the one to cook, clean and raise your kids doesn't make you any less of an equal to me.
Women are genetically geared nurturers, men are genetically geared protectors and providers....
Comment by Anonymous
My mum controls the house - all the money, she does most of the housework, though me and my brother do our own washing and stuff and clean our rooms, make our own food etc except for dinner, which is a family meal, since we're sixteen and seventeen now. We've been doing it for years as well. To be frank, my brother is a lot better at it than me. I'm the girl, but I cook very spontaneously (like my dad), I'm rubbish at housework; my brother, on the other hand, cleans the kitchen, does any ironing that needs doing, etc. It's like him and my mum share the housework!
My mum's brilliant, she's got a career and she looks after us all. We couldn't afford to live without the money she earns combined with the money my dad earns. She didn't have many choices and got a career off her own back.
I just felt I had to post because all these women going on about staying at home being better for the family.
"Women are genetically geared nurturers, men are genetically geared protectors and providers...."
Nope, no they're not, because I'm a lot more protective and career driven, and my brother's a housewife.
Comment by 95 Guy
Nope, no they're not, because I'm a lot more protective and career driven, and my brother's a housewife.""
To the last Anonymous : of course they are for a very simple reason : women have breasts, so they can feed children. They're born nurturers, period. Whether they want to play this role or not is another question.
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I love my "retro wife" and would never trade her or my life with anyone.