If you understood how much you have lost, how much you persist in destroying, youd know you have nothing worth being snarky about. Dont greet him with complaints and problems. The neighbors coming over for dinner tomorrow night will be in for a surprise! Im keeping the vacuum on because if the kids hear me on the phone, theyll want me to feed them again.. I could throw on my tan pedal pushers, pop my hair in a pert Quickest, easiest way in the world to clean up, pick up, brush up. I have finally decided I need a plan to be a good homemaker and support my husband who works incredibly hard. "Why do I want tennis lessons" he says with a scowl and "Didn't I want a washing machine? Dont worry, I dont own a house dress or pearls! Back upstairs I flip through my clothes rack and decide on a black silk Dior dress I also think you were wonderfully fortunate to have had such experiences in your lifetime and I know youre not alone. I make a Why not try simple, honest, interested description? Dont complain when he is late for dinner. Gather up the books, toys, and newspapers. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. Then run a dust cloth over the tables. Material on this site is provided for purposes of education, criticism, commentary, cultural reporting, entertainment, historical reference, and news reporting/analysis. him. If you want to progress, question your assumptions. Some of the most popular posts on my Step into the Past: Embrace the Art of Being a 1950s Housewife in the Modern Era - Retro Housewife Goes Green He has just been with a lot of work-weary people. It weighs only four pounds and you dont carry it, you wear it. Make one last trip through the main part of the house. Rummaging through my Chinese- themed jewellry Identifying the differences between the two could shine some light on how to be a good housewife in the modern era. Take a trip down memory lane with this lighthearted look back at how advertisers portrayed the sunny days of yesteryear, when a womans home was her castle and her kitchen was the heart of that home. (In case it matters, I was a stay-at-home mother and homemaker for 25 years. DO: Admire the manly things about him. I spend the evening in a haze, divided between polite chit-chat with stiff matrons and fending off old man Symthe's groping nicotene stained hands, which I am forced to endure because he appears to be Mr. X's boss.I'm amazed at how polite everyone is, except for Smythe, who seems to think he can do whatever he likes. Your membership is the foundation of our sustainability and resilience. A housewife in the 1950s wouldn't go to just one store, but would have to go to several shops, including the butcher, green grocer, grocer, baker, and the dairy. 5. amzn_assoc_linkid = "ac0733f9028aaf17afdfc3d9705697ae"; This lady is crazy happy to have a dish soap that somehow doesnt require you to wash dishes. for 6 or 7 hours, I sit down with a fresh coffee at my pastel pink You'll find lots of tips to help you be more like these wonderful housewives here. Unambitious you may think, but my friends, having the kind of marriage I wanted takes work, as does being a good wife! 133-134). The " Good Wife's Guide " is a magazine article rumored to have been published in the May 13, 1955 issue of Housekeeping Monthly, describing how a good wife should act, containing material that reflects a very different role assignment from contemporary American society. Men have been expected to do their share of household chores for decades! This little poem reads as follows: "Whether you live in a big, big house / Or a house that's very small / As long as mother's in the house / Size doesn't matter at all! While you prepare that feast, dont let your pesky kids and husband get in the way. You know what needs to be done and when you need to do it. Ive chosen to spend a massive amount of time thinking about and doing laundry the key is that it was my choice to do so! The 1950's housework schedule is written for a 50's housewife whose children are of school age. These ads are indeed works of art and as a former Mad Man, I can tell you that the choice of clothes for the women was careful and deliberate. Note: ClickAmericana.com features authentic historical information, and is not intended to represent current best practices on any topic, particularly with regard to health and safety, but also in terms of outdated cultural depictions and social values. Comb their hair and change their clothes if it is necessary to make them look presentable to him. During the episode, it was revealed that Fury actually has a wife and that she is also a Skrull. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or suggest that he lie down for a few minutes in the bedroom. Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. They do everything: washing dishes, cleaning, laundry, clothesline, taking care of children in the spirit of fun and smiles on their faces. grunts something incomprehensible and loosens his tie. In the 1950s, though, it was a the height of exotic cuisine. Some don'ts: Don't greet him with complaints and problems. (PS: Her eyes!). Check out these sexist stewardess job requirements of the 50s & 60s, How one woman invented the automatic dishwasher & saved us all countless hours of drudgery, 21 bad vintage product names you wouldnt see today, 1950s gloves for women: See 50+ vintage styles, glove tips & more, 9 beautiful DIY headboards with a vintage look, These vintage pots and pans from the 70s may seem kitschy now, but they were bold decor statements back then. I rub my chin - decisions, decisons. You are. A pop psychology boom means that the theories of Sigmund Freud and his daughter Anna experience a new level of prominence. Even with this added income for some families, things were still tough. cotton. It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. it wont stop drippingyou're supposed to take care of these things! To help keep up the illusion that this all came naturally, some women turned to barbituratesa class of drugs previously associated with soldiers in World War II, now being prescribed as "mother's little helper." But it is true in those days a woman's province was understood to be the home. At the same time, I know for a fact from personal conversations with several people born in the first half of the 20th century that such an experience was not universal. And when things get really, really incredible? 2019 April 15 How Did the 1950s Housewives Really Live? HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. You cant tell from the picture, but these ladies have been vacuuming the same spots for over an hour. Now that you know, have fun looking around! Some vintage Kitchen Aid appliances under-counter dishwashers and stand mixers. Of course its fine to look back and to notice the changes. Gee Whizz. It worked for her, and it'll work for you. Just point people to the apocryphal Slave Consultant's Narrative. So, given all that, how to view this ten-point list which supposedly came from a 1950s home economics textbook? Amen sister.preach it! Do you really think equal pay for equal work is the cause for a person not to make a living wage???? so of frenetic activity, culminating in me offloading Mr. X and the kids God bless you. "Think pretty when making your nightwear selections, and please, no safety pins or missing buttons. Doing this for him will give you a lift also. The only real difference between then and now, our standards have definitely slipped and our husbands can go and f*$k themselves if they expect dinner the moment they walk in the door orask me toget his slippers. Most of us pass it grudgingly and make it a tragedy. Women were expected to create a spotless home, delicious meals, and an inviting bedroom. Prepare yourself. Heres the Results! "Wilikerssweetpea, don't tell Leaves both hands free. afterward, followed by a spot of shopping. The article states: Have dinner ready. This hub allows you to take a peek at how one working class mum did it. If you liked this article, please share it! Amen sister!!!!! One of the major voices advocating a change in how children were raised was Dr. Benjamin Spock, who's book Baby and Child Care was released in 1946, who said seemingly radical ideas like this one: "Respect children because they're human beings and they deserve respect, and they'll grow up to be better people." Cue music and fade-out for dream sequence. (Of course, as in any age, just what sorts of freedoms and privileges you enjoy has a lot to do with economic status but since I want to enjoy myself, I'll opt for a comfortable, middle-class fantasy). [11] Be happy to see him. involuntarily find myself pouting likeyup, a three year old. Case in point: Why is it okay for you to call people today ill-mannered, vulgar and ugly such a blanket descriptor for literally billions of people while its offensive that I mock some previous generations? is distracted with the kids I run into the den and flip through the Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too. There is no one right answer. Watch one modernCanadian family live through six different decades onBack in Time for Dinner, Thursdays at8pm(8:30 NT. I notice with a smile that men passing by tip their hat to us. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people. Call it an exaggeration with a point, if you will. Children aren't born bad. It reminds folks of the importance of holding on to these newer ways of thinking and to caution them against falling back into older patterns which may be more comfortable but less socially desirable. Not only were these wives expected to cook and clean and wait on hubby hand and foot, they were meant to keep their hair and makeup attractive. Material on this site is provided for purposes of education, criticism, commentary, cultural reporting, entertainment, historical reference, and news reporting/analysis. No wait on, scrap thatMr.X doesn't like me to wear pants; he thinks they're unladylike. Remember it, lady-of-the-house, when faced with those chores that tire and bore you. Awesome 80s cereal, including old brands & cool flavors you probably forgot! Plan ahead, even the night before to have a delicious meal ready, on time for his return. Minimize all noise. Heels it is! A quote from The Basics: how to be a good wife an actual 1950s high school home economics text book. MORE: Pretty, thin, young and single? Appliances aside, decorating your beloved lair with joyful little flourishes was one of the greatest joys of kitchen ownership. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal (especially his favourite dish) is part of the warm welcome needed. Women do both a career and take care of the house? Enjoy, while I go puke. You pick the cases you know of that dont fit the general good points, and then act as though that proves that everything now is better than then. Washing clothes. Were they really Stepford-like, robotic creatures under the Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospects of a good meal are part of the warm welcome needed. After having leafed through Fascinating Womanhood, I want to see it as a condensation of the worst of this particular "joy through subservience" era, a precipitate that showcased only the most servile aspects of what women were led to believe was their right and proper function (all the parts that didn't portray them as handmaidens to the lord and master having been discarded to make the story better). He ruffles Timmy's hair and says "What time is the So, we could curl I feel an out of proportion sense of guilt. Ill hold the cigarette for you so you dont have to stop washing the dishes, said Gerald. Whether you preferred the term housewife or homemaker, if you were a married woman in the 1950s, it was a job without parallel. up on the Swedish inspired sofa and watch The Colgate Comedy Hour or The Phil Silvers Show.. Or maybe I could get out my hula hupe..now that would Image by Masayuki Hayashi. The juxtaposition of wonderful modernity with a tawdry past also serves to reinforce the 'rightness' of current societal stances by making any other positions appear ludicrous. Listen to him. You have no right to question him. Living conditions, daily farm chores, harvesting crops, and what I did for fun is vividly remembered. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice. Anxious? There is something about the idyllic 1950s housewife and homemaking that makes me want to clean and cook all day. 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. I race up the stairs, chased by Debbie, who asks me if I've finished her swan costume for ballet and didn't I know she has to have it by tomorrow? I dont want them to be late for Old man Smythe will be there. Oh I love that song! Make him comfortable: Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or suggest he lie down in the bedroom. (1959). Absentmindedly, I pick up X's shirt, which he's carelessly thrown on the floor. I was being gentle. Making your pots & pans shine like the top of the Chrysler Building will always be the best part of the whole day. 2023 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. In the 50s you were considered a bad housewife if you did not comply with the above list. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people. Its a little sad when the best thing about Glorias day is that she can hide the toilet brush in the back of the hamper. Strap slips over your shoulders. Pocket Love your laundry room In the '50s, the love you had for your kitchen paled only in comparison to the adoration you felt for your washer and dryer. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or have him lie down in the bedroom. Likewise, Velma here wouldnt be caught dead vacuuming with slippers on or heavens to Betsy bare feet. I don't get up though, because my 1950s I say huffily and Isn't that more important?". trim, I turn on the radio and contemplate what Mr X and i should do I don't fancy washing the clothes by hand, so I suggest maybe I could get a part time job and use that money for frivolous items like tennis lessons. Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. I click my Roger Vivier kid leather polka dot stilettos with accented bow together: 1950's shoes by Roger Vivier. Does it mean matching? Whaat? Let him talk first. Find out more here. 11.30 PM: "Now turn out the light..it's time for bed." Mental Hygiene: Classroom Films 1945-1970. We needn't paint a mental picture of those times as being one of master and slave, "his every whim a command, his every utterance golden," because they weren't. I said would we? Thats an impossible achievement even by todays standards and with all the mod cons we have. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part. Popular posts in this category include: How . ClickAmericana.com is made with and by Synchronista LLC 2011-2022. And while it would be near impossible for the many working women of today to clean with the same zeal after a long day on the job, we can all still learn a thing or two from 1950s . Such assumptions about the unhappiness of these women. Prepare the children. Shoot - as soon as X walks through the peacock embossed double glass doors, I can see he's had a bad day - he looks stressed and weighed down with responsibility, like he's lugging a camel behind his back.. 5.30 PM: "Hi Honey. Do you ever feel guilty because you can't live up to this fantasy of the "Good Wife"? Helen and Judy are waiting for us and we spend a pleasant hour eating, chatting and gossiping, although I'm a little taken aback by how intolerant the girls are, as their conversation is peppered here and there with racist, sexist and homophobic remarks. In 1930, German Margarine Company Echte Wagner Asked Their Artists to Imagine the Future. I hesitate - I was going to We, the ones who lived in different times, are telling you that the finger-pointing at the past, just like the finger-pointing at everyone who disagrees with you, is costing you. 4. A mere four seconds later, Edith had to hang up, because little Susan screamed like a banshee when Junior whacked her on the head with a spoonful of frosting. Tonights menu: Boiled cabbage and pumpkin pie. 5.00 PM: When Debbie and I get home I notice Timmy is wearing mouse ears. Yet another piece of "olden days" text, typically titled "How to Be a Good Wife" or "The Good Wife's Guide," is said to have originated with a 1950s-era home economics textbook. A good wife always knows her place. She was actually suppressed from any free thinking and was basically chained to the kitchen sink. Thanks for the funny blurbs and for having this site. realise I have to feed Timmy and Debbie first. (One exception I can think of is the article we have on slavery, which was a violent and tragic thing.) Could it be that some of us secretly wonder if life wasn't a litlle easier in some ways for women back then? WHAT DID A 1950S HOUSEWIFE WEAR? Margo and I decide to walk to the restaurant as it's close by. ), Ive been coming here for years, and have always felt its a humorous, entertaining, and respectful look back at ourselves and American cultural history. Her favorite chore? Plus I think that new Scandinavian tennis coach . A majority of the country thinks that at least 20 percent of Americans at least one in five of us are gay or lesbian. However, Ive gotten to the point where I dont want to read anything you have written because your attitude is almost always a snide, oh-so-superior-to-those-misled-backwards-people mocking of them. The following is from a 1950's home economics textbook intended for high school girls, teaching them how to prepare for married life: 1. What I and so many other people roughly my age are trying to communicate is, quit assuming that so much now is so much better. Listen to him. Throughout the evening I barely exchange two words with X, who is busy flirting with a bevy of nubile secretaries in bulbous floral dresses, though every now and then he shoots me a heavy frown whenever I look like I might be anything less than enthralled with Smythe's company. Entertaining has changed so much over the last several decades. Then when Wilbur walks in the door that evening, she pretends to be finishing up the cleaning. I race upstairs to get dressed then race back again because I The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. A little. Since it was your lair, you could even use the oven and the floor to store items. Being a housewife in the 1950s was quite different than today. Phew! Update [July 18, 2022]: Updated headline. Fastidiousness is essential when it comes to sleepwear. The world was filled with advice for women, some of it well meaning, some of it mean spirited, some of it meant to sell things, and some of it just bizarre. For them, life was as dreary as ever, and even more complicated. And before we entirely write off Fascinating Womanhood as the source of the piece now in circulation, let's take a peek between its covers, because it certainly contains plenty to make everyone from the diehard feminist to the "start the revolution without me" matron shudder, including these entries from a list of "DO's and DON'TS": DO: Accept him at face value. Copyright Stay at Home Mum 2023. 12.45 PM: Tennis went well. This class of tranquilizers could fix it all. Advertisement. I dont know when you were born, but Ive seen articles about periods back before WWI where you take the same derisive tone. Sort It Out In Therapy While housewives or stay-at-home mothers are becoming common again, it is not the same situation as women who lived back in the early to mid-1900s. No era, generation, decade or person is perfect. 10. Hay is one of the most-important things a farm can have. It is a figure of speech. Let him talk first-remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours. Once those are complete you'll want to add any appointments that you or your family may have. Clearly, Kay has never used an iron before. Its like a trained reflex, and youre missing the point by having your minds closed already. CLOTHING & MAKEUP In my quest for '50s-ification, it seemed easiest to start with the surface a line of thinking for which the '50s were renowned. Certainly there was all that sexism, subservience and lack of power but then on the flip side there was an absolution from financial responsibility - we could stay home with our children and not feel worthless and boring. Meanwhile, Victor and the tykes relax in the backyard. Were not being nasty old fogies, grouchy curmudgeons, and wet blankets. My cleaning routine consists of a quick wipe down and Im out the door. Been saying that for decades. The 1950s were not easy on women. The truth is most women found it impossible to do it all just like we often do now. It wasnt necessarily any more drudgery for a wife to maintain the things her husband had earned the wages to buy than it was for him to earn them in the first place. The laundry adoration society I agree and know we are unusual saying such things these days. Yes, heels when you vacuum. How cute. Touch up your makeup, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking. Tiny children were everywhere, under foot and constantly getting into mischief. What the h** does matchy matchy mean? At the mirror I darken my highly stylised, arched eyebrows with a brow pencil, powder my nose and refresh my lipstick. I need to sharpen my game. With her own pin money, Babette hires a maid to come every Monday. Being a vintage housewife can help you live a more simple life and the 1950s housewife is the most iconic of the past housewives. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Then you'll want to add any other appointments you have to your weekly schedule. We have way more clutter and distractions from each other like smart phones, iPad and internet. Women in the 1940s had to make nutritious meals, do their part for the war effort at home, and keep their children alive. Want to prove that American slaveholders were even more vile than we could possibly imagine? Thank you K! Were telling you that the world you are being told you live in, isnt an accurate reflection of the present or the past. Do you look at 1950s housewives and wish you can be more like that? Of saccharine voice informs me someone called "Tammy" will over in an hour . Wow what a day yesterday! X And we certainly don't want to believe our schools were used to inculcate young women with these skewed notions of the proper role for women. See photos and learn what Wisconsin country life was like for my family in the 1950's. Where the old style of parenting was dictatorial, the new approach was democratic. Dont knock it. and the children go to day care or are home alone.I wish I could have those appliances especially the dish washer. Oh by the way, would you mind Well, you'd think I'd aked him if I could sell my kidney. Shes still learning which end of the broom to use on the floor. TOGETHER they chose, built, and kept up the different parts of their life. Be happy to see your husband. Im loving it so far. I make a mental note to hit on Mr. X to throw some She describes it as consisting of a "biscuit," tangy tomato sauce with oregano, and "nippy" cheese. I'm feeling proud of myself - there's nothing to this 50's with cutaway V-line back. The strong gender roles of the 1940s persisted and in some ways, were deeper than ever as women were forced out of the factories and back into the home. Realistically, there is more about hay than meets the eye. But CBC's domestic expert has a solution: keep your toddler from wandering into the fireplace by distracting them with a nesting ashtray. Note: ClickAmericana.com features authentic historical information, and is not intended to represent current best practices on any topic, particularly with regard to health and safety, but also in terms of outdated cultural depictions and social values. The Power of Our Stories: Creating a Mission-Driven Book, Creating a Just World for Women and Girls, Making Waves as the First Woman President and CEO of Celebrity Cruises, World Systems Solutions is Focused on Transformation. more experienced but Jerry is better looking and we have a little But that is not what we are talking about today. :-) Matchy-Matchy Wikipedia. "Frigid?" Im a retired nurse with disabled knees. Is it real,. Learn how your comment data is processed. Oh I know, they weren't 'stimulated', 'enriched'..they couldn't grow! and apparently.. it is. You will know it because your teen daughter comes home after school and cooks some bacon, takes off one of her penny loafers, and sits down on your pristine kitchen floor. Count this as minor when compared to what he had to go through today. Evenings and nights were filled with, dinner, more cleaning, bathing the kids and getting ready for the next day. If they're bad, it's because you failed as a mother If your child isn't developing at the right pace, or doesn't smile, or burns down the neighbour's garage, that's all on you. Some Don'ts: Don't greet him with problems or complaints. After half an hour or When you were down, there was nothing quite so uplifting as reorganizing the whole room. eggs, ground coffee and a squeezed orange juice. I whip up some milk and 1995 - 2023 by Snopes Media Group Inc. Remember, too, that your labors receive the highest of achievement awards your familys devotion. There was an enormous amount of pressure on men, women, and children to conform to numerous standards much of which was built completely upon multiple double standards. DO: Be a Domestic Goddess. token dusting of the living-room knick-knacks, I float upstairs to get They wont melt! See your Hoover dealer soon.. Be a little gay and a little more interesting. You can also get our free newsletter, follow us on Facebook & Pinterest. Thats where youre out of line, claiming youre only using tongue-in-cheek humor. terribly waking up Timmy and Debbie ?

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