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Perhaps if you answered my earlier questions about what the point is for a childless woman to stay home, I would understand. As a mother of three, I know that when the children are away at grandma's, the house stays blissfully clean. Laundry is minimal. Cooking is a snap. I don't understand why she should stay home, if she makes enough money to pay for a maid. A maid for a childless couple could come once a week for less than $100, and working even part-time would cover that and leave money left over. The money doesn't have to be about shoes and vacations ... that job could pay for health benefits or just socking money away for retirement, or the couple could use the money for charitable purposes.
This is what I am asking you to explain to me. I don't believe that a stay-at-home-wife is subjugated; my own mother stays at home. I also don't believe that wanting to make money to lead a comfortable life is celebrating materialism or that there's anything wrong with people who want to see the world or have nicer things. You seem to think a woman's working will sacrifice something important, so please tell me what that is. Am I underestimating the amount of housework that needs to be done? Do you live somewhere that requires a lot of daily labor? Do working women take jobs away from men who need to support their families? I'm just asking.
If the money you earn covers your maid, your cook, and the gas and wear and tear expenses on having your own vehicle to get back and forth with, doesn't that make your job pointless? I've seen couples come in to do their taxes done where both partners work and they have kids. But the childcare expense is more than one partner made all year! Thus, it COST them money to have both spouses work in that case.
I'd bet I could find dirt in your house--all I'm saying. Taking care of a house is a full time gig.
In terms of my job, by the way, I've never met a woman that can handle the job I do...pick up air compressors by herself and put them on a shelf. Pick up cabinets by herself, carry 5 gallon buckets of paint up a ladder, etc.
If the money you earn covers your maid, your cook, and the gas and wear and tear expenses on having your own vehicle to get back and forth with, doesn't that make your job pointless? I've seen couples come in to do their taxes done where both partners work and they have kids. But the childcare expense is more than one partner made all year! Thus, it COST them money to have both spouses work in that case.
I'd bet I could find dirt in your house--all I'm saying. Taking care of a house is a full time gig.
In terms of my job, by the way, I've never met a woman that can handle the job I do...pick up air compressors by herself and put them on a shelf. Pick up cabinets by herself, carry 5 gallon buckets of paint up a ladder, etc.
First of all, we're talking about DINKs--dual income, no kids. Childcare is therefore moot.
Secondly, my paycheck more than pays for those things. Some women on this board are lawyers, who can make hundreds of dollars an hour. I believe one lady is or was an engineer, making over $100K a year.
Thirdly, the reason you will find dirt in my house is because I have children. I already said that the house stays tidy when they are gone. Keeping an empty house clean is not a full-time job for most women by a long shot.
And lastly, I don't know what lugging paint cans around has to do with anything. I'm a technical writer. I don't meet a lot of anyone who can do what I do.
First of all, we're talking about DINKs--dual income, no kids. Childcare is therefore moot.
Secondly, my paycheck more than pays for those things. Some women on this board are lawyers, who can make hundreds of dollars an hour. I believe one lady is or was an engineer, making over $100K a year.
Thirdly, the reason you will find dirt in my house is because I have children. I already said that the house stays tidy when they are gone. Keeping an empty house clean is not a full-time job for most women by a long shot.
And lastly, I don't know what lugging paint cans around has to do with anything. I'm a technical writer. I don't meet a lot of anyone who can do what I do.
Yes, but can you write technical manuals on lugging paint? Now THAT takes some serious wordsmithing.
I realize that, so I didn't mention childcare in my first sentence. I did in the second to point out a situation where expenses were more than one person's income, rendering their income pointless, since it would actually be less expensive, in the long run, for one partner NOT to have a job.
And you know what? IF the woman can make more than the man, then let HIM be the one to stay home and take care of the house, the cooking, the shopping--if he can handle all that. I sometimes wonder what parents are teaching their daughters these days. Both my sisters know how to sew, and both were taught how to cook.
Do working women take jobs away from men who need to support their families? I'm just asking.
This question of yours: Um, women are not successful in my line of work. They can't handle it by themselves, they require help. We don't usually work in pairs, getting more done if each person has their own area of responsibility.
You might be a technical writer, and that's fine. Tell us the technical method of picking up a 150# air compressor off a pallet and putting it on the shelf.
Yes, but can you write technical manuals on lugging paint? Now THAT takes some serious wordsmithing.
Yes, but I admit I cannot write technical manuals WHILE lugging paint.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TKramar
I realize that, so I didn't mention childcare in my first sentence. I did in the second to point out a situation where expenses were more than one person's income, rendering their income pointless, since it would actually be less expensive, in the long run, for one partner NOT to have a job.
I agree with you. I do think sometimes the stay-at-home-spouse might just want to get out of the house or feel more challenged, and I think those feelings are valid. In any case, a couple should carefully consider all the advantages and disadvantages. Like you said, working outside the house has many costs, some of which are hidden.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TKramar
And you know what? IF the woman can make more than the man, then let HIM be the one to stay home and take care of the house, the cooking, the shopping--if he can handle all that. I sometimes wonder what parents are teaching their daughters these days. Both my sisters know how to sew, and both were taught how to cook.
I'm still fuzzy on why either one of them should stay home, but I can see the merit in doing things like baking bread from scratch, preparing homemade soup stocks and other tasks that take a long time. I enjoy cooking and would do quite a bit more if I could. (Of course, that would also cost money.) I would also enjoy more time to garden.
Landlords require a cleaning deposit, because no one cleans their home adequately. How often, for example, would you dust your fan blades, if you have ceiling fans?
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