「The Housewife.」 What a
great role for a woman! 「The Housewife」 is praised in many songs, many
poems, and many stories. We can almost feel the kindness and the warmth
flowing from the name 」the housewife」. A housewife takes care of her
cute children. A housewife works hard to sweep the ground, mop the
floor, wash the clothes, and wipe the windows. A housewife constantly
cooks in the kitchen. The role of a housewife at home is esteemed so
high that we give her an affirmative appreciation. However, there is
something wrong with this good name: in real life, many women lead
miserable lives under this great title.
At home, who would sweep and mop the dusty floor? Who would wash the
dirty and stinking clothes? Who would cook in the hot and greasy
kitchen? Who would take care of the baby who cannot care for himself
yet and the elderly who move slowly? The housewife, of course. Besides
these chores, a housewife also has a caring role to play: she has to
look after the moods of family. She always has to offer consolation with
tender words and tender actions for every family member. As for
herself, it is unacceptable for her to accumulate bad moods and feel
exhausted about performing emotional labor. The good name makes many
women sacrifice their own dreams and hopes. 「The Housewife」 is in
reality a beautiful package that has trapped a lot of women
unconsciously.
My mother, as an example, is a common housewife. I am growing up and I
know gradually the harm of being a housewife. My ma has taken care of
the home for almost twenty years, and she feels so tired that she wants
to lead her own life. I saw the quarrels between my grandmother and my
mother. I saw my grandfather taking note of my mother』s comings and
goings form our home. My ma has talked to me several times about her
powerlessness in the home. But there is little I can do to help, me
being a dependent girl myself.
It is no wonder that women don』t want to become housewives anymore. If
we hope to attract women to assume this kind of role, we must change the
content and the role of the housewife, give it more variety, more room
for diversity, for self-realization. Only a happy housewife can make a
happy home.