Although some people are sure that housewives do not perform extremely difficult tasks, it is worth highlighting that is a demanding profession. Several factors prove that being a housewife is not a profession, to those aspects belong to the system of payment, supervision, schedule. However, according to the dictionary, a housewife is a profession. Thus, it is essential to examine the economic aspect of being a housewife, stress challenges, and difficulties that the representatives of this occupation might face.
Although the world is changing, and nowadays women have more rights than they used to have even a century ago, it is worth pointing out that not all females have a job, and thus, become housewives. There are a lot of factors that influence such a decision. As at every workplace, the housewives perform certain tasks; among them are the following ones, namely:
- Cooking;
- Cleaning;
- Laundry;
- Child care;
- Taking care of the husband (Mutari & Figart, 2003).
Barbara Bergman highlights that all the aspects contain economic risks. In case a housewife seeks for a job, there are a lot of chances for her to be dissatisfied with the salary and social status (Mutari & Figart, 2003). The employer is not likely to hire a woman that does not have career experience. Such women usually perform the role of a servant; however, do not get paid for this work. The sexual aspect and taking care of husband involves the need for women to be attractive and good looking. Also, the housewife should take care of children, however as they grow up, there are bigger chances to be displaced.
There are a lot of threats for a woman to get injured at home. Millions of people get injured at the workplace and get compensation. Domestic violence is another relevant aspect. The aggressive behavior against the employee would consequently lead to the criminal penalty; however, domestic violence can lead only to charges. The fact that the housewife does not get paid for a job might result in a difficult situation in case a woman wants to divorce. In this situation, females will be the vulnerable party. She will lose the place of living, support, and other benefits of marriage. So, women are not protected.
Giving birth to children is not the duty of a woman, it is her choice. In case, a woman can dedicate her time to children and home, and the husband performs the role of the breadwinner, the mother should be provided with several benefits and compensations (Kian, 2014). The housewife combines several professions, namely the servant, educator, and a cook. The servant is paid at least 10,73$ an hour (Personal care and service workers, all other, n.d.). Thus, women should be provided with the salary and treated as a worker.
In conclusion, it should be pointed out that in case women chose to become a housewife, they should be protected and provided with the benefits that have all the employees. Housewife is a profession, and it is complicated. Paying a housewife is likely to promote the image of the family and the housewives will be more secured and protected because they will be treated equally. The work of the housewives should be encouraged, and it will consequently lead to the improvement of the attitude towards women who do not work in the ordinary meaning of this word.
References
Kian, A. (2014). Gender social relations and the challenge of women’s employment. Middle East Critique, 23(3), 333-347.
Mutari, E., & Figart, D. (2003). Women and the economy: A reader. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe.
Personal care and service workers, all other. (n.d.). Web.