Then there was this letter in TODAY which saw the homemaker's choice as a 'self-centred' one and therefore not deserving of benefits similar to that for, say, NSmen, and itself led to more letters about how much homemakers contribute.
I think the 'offending' letter does have a point, which is that the homemaker's decision to stay at home is largely made with the individual's family in mind and therefore is 'self-centred'. I doubt that there are many stay-home parents who decided to stay home for the good of the state, to nurture their children into exemplary citizens, though of course that might be the indirect result of one's staying home to take care of the children. Certainly, in comparison, NS duty is overtly state-centred.
However, the letter sounds too dismissive of the role of homemakers. Hence the letters that followed, I suppose. I think there are many people who do not have very high regard for homemakers. Even among my aquaintances, friends and relatives, I get questions like, 'So what exactly do you do every day?' (Read: You must be very free, since you have nothing much to do.) And when you tell them what you do, it doesn't actually sound very impressive. Also, if they read blogs like mine, they would probably think homemakers really have nothing much to do, since they can blog, and blog about nonsense like K drama and shopping, ha ha. (Ya, like I want to blog about mopping, ironing and doing the dishes!) Wait till all these people try it out for themselves!!
I try to ignore this kind of 'attitude' towards homemakers. People can think what they like about homemakers. But some people, obviously, have become rather irate at how poorly homemakers are appreciated. I do understand their point of view, too. However, while I would be happy if the government or anyone wants to throw handouts my way, I don't think I would expect any. How do you quantify what a homemaker 'deserves'?
Anyway, it's International Women's Day today. Three cheers for all misunderstood and under-appreciated women.
And of course, not all homemakers are women. I can't remember why but I have this letter saved under 'favourites'. Three cheers for househusbands as well!
'I carried the basket of clothes out onto the back deck so I could fold them in the cool air... Walking at night is the finest form of entertainment, it is channel-surfing, lit window after lit window, rectangles of human activity in full colour... Though a few men do the dishes, it's usually women I see in the kitchen window over the sink. Their heads are down, eyes focused on something below, their faces as serene as a garden pond. They remind me of Madonnas in medieval paintings, only instead of gazing down at Jesus they're looking at dirty dishes in a sink of soap suds. I know what this is about. We find comfort in this nightly moment of solitude. It is when we perform our postmortem of the day, the week, our lives, remembering things to do and things that should have been...
A white Lexus drove by. The Robinsons' terrier barked. I added cat litter to the grocery list in my mind.'
From the last part of the last chapter of Househusband by Ad Hudler. Highly recommended, especially for all who stay home!
Comments
I think we should have less give and take. Our govt shd take less from us, and then don't have to agonize so much about what to give back Once you start doing that, if is inevitable that people will start making comparisons.