Current Events > Tips for women about their husbands, from a 1950 home ec textbook

(+) Yeah! (+)

Asherlee10 posted...

DifferentialEquation posted...

Asherlee10 posted...

Some of these posts in this topic are alarming.

Regardless of gender, if someone stays home while their spouse goes to work, I don't see the problem with expecting spouse at home to do household chores and manage the kids. I don't see an issue with book when you take that into consideration.

That's not the problem I see with the article. A few snippets of things that suggest a subservient relationship:

"Take 15 minutes so you are refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking."

"[Prepare your children]... They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part."

"At the time of his arrival eliminate all noise of washer, drier, dishwasher, or vacuum... Be happy to see him."

The part about the kids playing the part of little treasures just sounds funny.

The other two points can be boiled down to try to look good/presentable for your spouse and do little things to show that you love/appreciate them. That's something that I think both people in a marriage should try to do.
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In the 50s, people happy because we went through the post-war economic boom and of course, they had less expectations. For example, didn't have things like credit cards to spend money that they didn't readily have, whereas now, we expect to buy more than we can actually afford.

Also, it's a sign of the times. Similar to the Denmark happiness polls, back then it was seen as impolite to say that you're not happy. A housewife who is basically dictated to be the moral support of the family doesn't have room for emotions such as being dissatisfied with their lot in life (as you see in TC's post - about not bothering the man with her problems). It's just not what you did. You took your lot and learned to be happy with it. Today, we want more.
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Solar_Crimson posted...

Chicken posted...

Solar_Crimson posted...

The Admiral posted...

Both men and women reported greater levels of happiness in the 1950s than they do today.

So, should we go back to the way things were back then?

I see no issue.

So, we should go back to an era where women in most cases were not allowed to have jobs outside the house?

Allowed? They were allowed, they didnt want to. Didnt need to.
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Wolf_J_Flywheel posted...

They were allowed,

A lot of husbands wouldn't allow that.
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A lot of the posts here doesn't surprise me.
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That also mostly only applies to white women. Non-white women have pretty much always had to work outside the home to keep their households financially solvent.

Really after higher rates of women working during the first world war, the idea that women belonged at home and out of the workplace is irreparably cracked. The next fifty years are just the story of society at large coming to understand that, further boosted by the second world war and the Civil Rights movements coming out of the fifties.
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People took it for granted how much better and simpler things were back then. Now look at how complicated life is. And if you try to be a traditionalist, you're on the front page of google news the next morning being labelled a 'misogynist'
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I think some of these are a little dumb and a woman shouldn't have to fake anything to appease a man. But a lot of it seems reasonable for a stay at home wife. If you're staying home all day, you oughta keep it nice and tidy, for yourself, for the man and for the kids. Order is very important in human life. Both parts of a couple should treat each other with a healthy mix of love and respect. Heck, respect is just a part of love. Both parts should listen to one another, and noone should say - "I have it harder than you do". It's different kinds of hardships.
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Asherlee10 posted...

REMercsChamp posted...

People took it for granted how much better and simpler things were back then. Now look at how complicated life is. And if you try to be a traditionalist, you're on the front page of google news the next morning being labelled a 'misogynist'

There are a lot of behaviors and beliefs we've held as modern humans that were not right, but as society progresses forward we recognize those disparities and fix them.

But things were BETTER then! Look at r/neet, people love not working. Now women basically HAVE to work.
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While it has sexist undertones of the era, this mostly doesn't seem that bad.

But maybe because I see all this as reasonable stuff I would try to do for my wife, if that role was upon me. >_>
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My wife does the exact opposite of all of that, so for all you banging the drum about sexism...know that the other side isn't any fucking better.
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_OujiDoza_ posted...

My wife does the exact opposite of all of that

So she cranks the Rage Against the Machine the second you walk in the door?
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REMercsChamp posted...

People took it for granted how much better and simpler things were back then. Now look at how complicated life is. And if you try to be a traditionalist, you're on the front page of google news the next morning being labelled a 'misogynist'

Well, if you're trying to say that women should stay at home and away from the workforce, then what else would you call it?

REMercsChamp posted...

But things were BETTER then! Look at r/neet, people love not working. Now women basically HAVE to work.

Don't use the failures at r/NEET as your point of reference.
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CyricZ posted...

_OujiDoza_ posted...

My wife does the exact opposite of all of that

So she cranks the Rage Against the Machine the second you walk in the door?

Nah Christian rock....

I think she's trying to break me.
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D-Lo_BrownTown posted...

Now all they do is cuck you while you work

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Both of my great-grandparents and grandparents worked. Only families making good money had a housewife back then.
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Youre being contrarian if you think those are all bad points lol. You can have a problem with the tone but whats the big deal?
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When does the dick sucking start?
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Conflict posted...

masticatingman posted...

Youre being contrarian if you think those are all bad points lol. You can have a problem with the tone but whats the big deal?

The whole point is that it's heavily focused on the man with little regard for the woman. How tf do you guys manage to not notice this

Some of them don't care.
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It's honestly not surprising to see who is in favor of going back to 50s era life and who isn't.
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Conflict posted...

masticatingman posted...

Youre being contrarian if you think those are all bad points lol. You can have a problem with the tone but whats the big deal?

The whole point is that it's heavily focused on the man with little regard for the woman. How tf do you guys manage to not notice this

Well it was written for a female audience. All the "how to please your man" stuff is just the 1950's version of Cosmo.
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I've actually had a Master and slave relationship for a while and it's similar to this. Although I could work it was his decision if I did, and where I was allowed to. I was required to finish all tasks he told me to. Dress how he wanted me to, even cook and eat exactly what he told me.

Very little of what I did was what I choose. I honestly loved it, I knew he cared for me a lot and I did for him as well so it worked really well. If it wasn't for distance currently would still be with him and to be honest he still sometimes texts me commands and of course if Master Commands, I obey.

The Admiral posted...

Both men and women reported greater levels of happiness in the 1950s than they do today.

Based off what stats?
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No wonder you guys are alone on v day

Teddytalks posted...

No wonder you guys are alone on v day

*silence*

That was read.
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Teddytalks posted...

No wonder you guys are alone on v day

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Opened FB and saw a female friend post this picture.. This is what she posted with it

I'm not perfect and some days completely fail. But I can honestly tell you that these are things I strive for EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. This is my job; being a mom and homemaking. I know this is not for everyone and that's okay!! However, I take this role seriously and work hard to serve my husband because we are ONE FLESH and it's my PRIVILEGE to serve him on a daily basis. I hope and pray I can instill these characteristics in my daughter and that my son's future wife works hard to serve him as well.

I love that the I get to cook him homecooked meal (most days). The kids I do a "20 minute" hustle to the house picked up and looking good before he walks in the door (when Natalie allows so ;)). And we all get to greet him with hugs and kisses when he walks in. I also work realllllly hard to make sure the kids aren't bickering and exuding JOY when he walks in because I KNOW his job is emotionally straining on him and a crazy house is the last thing he needs. Nope, not perfect, but working hard daily to fight the good fight by His grace!!
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and if she deviates from those tips, feel free to beat her! after all, there's only one man of the house

maga!
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AlisLandale posted...

Conflict posted...

masticatingman posted...

Youre being contrarian if you think those are all bad points lol. You can have a problem with the tone but whats the big deal?

The whole point is that it's heavily focused on the man with little regard for the woman. How tf do you guys manage to not notice this

Well it was written for a female audience. All the "how to please your man" stuff is just the 1950's version of Cosmo.

Yeah. I don't see some this stuff as any worse than telling men to wash up and put on a clean shirt for dinner or to not leave their Soldier of Fortune magazines strewn about the house.
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krazychao5 posted...

I'm not perfect and some days completely fail. But I can honestly tell you that these are things I strive for EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. This is my job; being a mom and homemaking. I know this is not for everyone and that's okay!! However, I take this role seriously and work hard to serve my husband because we are ONE FLESH and it's my PRIVILEGE to serve him on a daily basis. I hope and pray I can instill these characteristics in my daughter and that my son's future wife works hard to serve him as well.

I love that the I get to cook him homecooked meal (most days). The kids I do a "20 minute" hustle to the house picked up and looking good before he walks in the door (when Natalie allows so ;)). And we all get to greet him with hugs and kisses when he walks in. I also work realllllly hard to make sure the kids aren't bickering and exuding JOY when he walks in because I KNOW his job is emotionally straining on him and a crazy house is the last thing he needs. Nope, not perfect, but working hard daily to fight the good fight by His grace!!

That's actually really lovely, and I applaud her for her dedication. She looks like she has great pride and joy in doing that, which is so good. I find it heartwarming.
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ExtremeLuchador posted...

Both of my great-grandparents and grandparents worked. Only families making good money had a housewife back then.

Look at the workforce participation rate of women in 1950. Less than a third of women worked in 1950. Housewives were very prevalent.
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Keep in mind that this is from an era when most women were housewives and the man was liable to come in after a day of working in the coal mine or some shit. Expectations were different.
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EternalDivide posted...

Everything functioned just fine

And already she's full of shit.
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