Role of women in family

Malaysia
September 30, 2010 9:04pm CST
In this modern world, many women have started to work to support their families for various reasons. Almost every girl is educated. Therefore, they no longer stay at home to cook for their families. You prefer your mother to stay at home or a working woman ?
3 people like this
18 responses
• United States
1 Oct 10
I was a work outside of my home and mom, and although I was so career driven I also a Super-Mom, as I was so determine to make sure my children did not suffer. I would have preferred to be a stay at home mom, but being single I had no choice. So I tried daily to balance between the two, most days I dropped in bed like a rock as I was so exhausted but looking back I would have had it no other way. I love it.
2 people like this
• United States
1 Oct 10
Women have to play all of the roles. We have to be wife, girlfriend, lover, mother, sister, aunt, daughter, grand-daughter, grandmother, mediator, disciplinarian, friend homemaker, and we have to bring home the bacon. My mother works and she tries her best to be the homemaker. Name a role, we pretty much have that covered. I currently go to school, I try to make money where I can, take care of three cats, take care of my grandmother, I have a circle of friends, and I have a boyfriend. I have many roles to play in my family.
@GardenGerty (157665)
• United States
1 Oct 10
My mom stayed home, but by the time I was in my twenties she really did not do much around the house or cook very often. I am at home, but working most of the time on my computer. I cook and clean, and could do more, but we also need me to get a good business going online. I prefer that I stay home, because I can be at home when my husband is. I have had outside jobs that had me away a whole lot and we were miserable. We seldom ate together or saw each other. For a lot of years I worked two jobs.
• United States
1 Oct 10
My mother was at home most of my childhood thought I think working was probably better for her. I myself, I was home for 5 yrs with the kids. Our bills grew & grew and I had no choice but to go back to work part time. I do like working part time, but I know as hubby is my child care he'd rather have me home. He always says when busy season comes that he misses me.... But if I don't work we're in trouble!! Though in some instances men still want the burden of the household to fall solely on the Woman even if they are not there to do the work. It's like working 2 jobs and only getting paid for one.
1 person likes this
@Fire10 (293)
• United States
1 Oct 10
I love this topic - I think it is something that is less-considered because people are busy buzzing about the role of women outside the family. I have very passionate feelings on the subject and I'm going to share them with you. Please understand that I am giving my opinion generally and it may or may not apply to the circumstances of those who are reading this. Really, my thoughts are for the consideration of those who, with a little sacrifice, could stay at home and do the hard work of being a wife and mother. Admittedly, everybody has got to do the best they can with what they have. The message that of the feminist movement is that women can do amazing things - and I believe that they can and do do immensely valuable work. Women are full of talent and ability. But I believe that women who are concerned about being undervalued in the workplace are only undervaluing their own importance in the home. Yes, so these amazing, impressively capable and talented women go do amazing things - but those amazing things could have easily translated into amazing things in the lives of their children, in the life of their significant other, and in the life of their friends and neighbors. Each of us only have so much to give. So instead of staying in the home and cooking, cleaning, teaching, trying to keep a happy home and family, and being employed full-time in saving money, I think a lot of women take - what is for many - the easy way out; they get a job. They go to work to pay for day-care (entrusting their kids to be reared by people likely less capable than themselves) and the $5 tv-dinners that the family gets when Mom and Dad both come home stressed from a long day at work. Some may pay for someone else to come and clean their house. Two stressed, spread-too-thin spouses may fight more and spend so much time jointly maintaining their home that they don't have time to maintain their marriage (or relationship). Parents may separate, and - statistically - children aren't as well supported in single-parent households. So yeah - I don't really think that all of these things happen in every home where the mother works a considerable amount of time outside of the home, but I think that - to some extent - about half of them happen on a regular basis. And all this (for some) to prove that women are extremely capable and valuable in the work place. So, after that diatribe, the moral of this story is: Mother's please be very careful in considering spending a significant amount of time 'working your magic' outside of the home. I believe that is almost of all-consuming importance that you put your magic to work at home. In the end it is always your decision - I just thought I'd share my point of view... Thanks... :)
1 person likes this
• Malaysia
1 Oct 10
What an impressive response ! You are really think about this topic seriously. Good analyse and your points stand out to be a valuable one to those working mother. Great job.
@NoWayRo (1061)
• Romania
1 Oct 10
Excellent comment you have there Fire10, and an excellent topic of discussion, too. Just thinking - doesn't this work both ways? I agree with your statement that the amazing things we are capable of doing can be translated into amazing children, but isn't this valid for fathers, as well? I mean, if both parents are working (not necessarily career focused, mind you, just regular jobs) doesn't this relieve the pressure from the male parent, who no longer has to be the sole provider for the entire family, and thus allows him to focus more on spending quality time with children and the significant other? I think on the long term, children might benefit more from having both parents more relaxed, more often at home, more easily involved in their lives.
@Fire10 (293)
• United States
2 Oct 10
I think you have a very good point there.... studies also gloat about the importance of having an 'active' father in the home as well. I can imagine how having two parents splitting roles 50/50 would be.... quite perfect really in terms of the home. But I think that there are things in society that - I think - make it really difficult to do. Some of the benefits (health insurance, retirement) only come with full-time work. As I wouldn't recommend full-time for both parents... in that respect it is 'less-expensive' to have one person work a full-time job. Although I could see that having one person in the workplace and one person working in the home would be great... I kinda wonder if each would be stronger by primarily focusing on one role - and the expectations/roles are somewhat pre-defined in this situation... On the other hand I think that each of us can get a bit 'burnt-out' of doing the same thing so much... so the 50/50 would be very nice in that respect - each spouse loving what they do in both parts of their lives. But if I had to choose one to stay home and one to be in the workplace, I think that men (speaking of my own experience) are set up to be in the workplace. I don't know if it is in our DNA, or if it is just well-taught by society, but I see that men's self-esteem is almost invariably tied to being the 'worker'. Part of me is beginning to wonder if society is beginning to force women into the same situation... I only see that as being harmful if society doesn't likewise accommodate and encourage men to fill the gap in the family (every home that I've seen that has tried to flip-flop traditional roles has had serious marriage issues and/or divorce). That aside - in all fairness - I really wonder if we men can replace women in the home.... On another note I think that men are generally more suited to the workplace based on the fact that we tend to easily compartmentalize our lives - switch gears between roles while limiting stress slosh-over. The 'mammoth hunter' wasn't benefited by having 50 things running through his mind while hunting - whereas in the home it... seems almost absolutely necessary (where are each of the children, what are they doing, and what is going on with all of the things that I need to do?) Anyway, when it comes down to it - I don't really know what is best... I just think that home and kids are a huge priority... and I think the simplest route for parents to meet those needs (for most homes) is to have the mother in the home. Perhaps one day I'll see society shift in such away that I could see either or performing the task equally well... :) It is something to think about though.
• Philippines
1 Oct 10
being educated is not a reason for a women to escape from the duties as a woman and as a mother.A woman can explore the world as long as she is kept reminded that she had her roles and she never neglects it.She needs not to be a super woman to do things accurately but if it calls her to do so she had to do it. cooking is very simple.Every woman should reinforce themselves with education and a good job but not to sacrifice the family needs to have her services.never neglect duties.there are lots of working girls who never failed to such things.we should not tend to be clueless on how our family are doing since we had our own world and that is our work...no!no!
1 person likes this
@Galena (9110)
1 Oct 10
my mum worked very hard raising me, because there was just her. and I really respect how much she did so that I didn't go without anything. it instilled in me that working hard is something people should do, they shouldn't expect something for nothing. unfortunately my husband is too unwell mentally to work, and I have to care for him, so we rely on benefits, and our awful new conservative government frighten me. it's not like I ever expect to be rich on government handouts, but we used to work hard, and now we can't, we were at least able to have a comfortable life. not rich, but we have enough to be happy. and the conservative government seems to think that rather than taxing the rich they should take from the poor, and that if you're not rich it's because you don't try hard enough, rather than because you were unlucky. I'm really worried that I'll need to leave the part time job I love, and get a full time job, and my husbands mental wellbeing will suffer because on the days I do work he's anxious and ends up spending time with family because he's scared of being on his own. and for that full time job to be worthwhile I would need to earn more than my carers allowance and enough to pay our rent too, as everything I earn get's taken off what we are given in housing benefit (which actually means that financially there is no point in me going to work, because they subtract whatever I earn from housing benefits we receive. so I am ONLY working for my own enjoyment and getting some time out of the house. and even if I earned enough to cover all that, my husbands well being would suffer for not having my support in all that time. so basically, it's all crap. I was raised to work hard, and now I end up feeling bad that we have an okay life on benefits, and at the same time I'm scared that will be taken away by our rob the poor for the benefit of the rich government.
• Malaysia
2 Oct 10
Don't feel guilty for what you deserve to receive. Things will become better for your life....
@Ramaditya (1227)
• Indonesia
1 Oct 10
Yes, women are now educated and able to work by herself. But, I prefer having my mother working at home better than working. That's because I am alright for a working woman as long as she does not forget or neglect her main duty and her household jobs.
1 person likes this
@anurag3786 (6267)
• India
1 Oct 10
I think there are very important of role of women in a family. A woman makes their family strong. And if there are no any women then that family is not a family and everything will be not fine their. I think a woman is known very well that how to handle their family and what is the need of their family. So there is a very important role of women in a family. What about you.
1 person likes this
@kristeena (358)
• Philippines
1 Oct 10
I have already asked that question to my children, and what can we expect from them? Well, they really want me home. I have worked for 14 long years and I only got the chance to watch over them during my rest days. So when the company offered a voluntary resignation with a very nice package, I grabbed that chance. Now, I am home but still got the chance to work online as well. I have plenty of time for my family.
• Malaysia
2 Oct 10
Will you consider the decision you made as some kind of sacrification ? :) I personally think that it worth to spend more time with your children..
• Philippines
2 Oct 10
As i observe many women prefer as a working woman. Actually my mother is a working woman and my father is just staying in our house for the reason my father has an arthritis. My father decided to end his job because of his arthritis.As a girl i must prefer to be a working woman than to stay at home.
• Philippines
2 Oct 10
As of today's generation I prefer women to work also because if men will serve as a bread winner in the family I assure that the income he will be earning will not be suitable for your family's daily needs.What men can do women could also do.Therefore its better if the couple will be both working
@jovie899 (112)
1 Oct 10
I am one of working mother out there.Given a choice i just want to stay at home to take care of my kids.It breaks my heart everytime that i can't attend to their needs,physically.
• Philippines
2 Oct 10
For my own observation now a days i don't think that not almost every girl is educated it's because now a days a woman in early age get early pregnancy. Go back to the your question " You prefer your mother to go to stay at home or a working woman?". i would like to stay my mother at home so that she can look out my brothers everything they do and to cook my families for breakfast,lunch,dinner and also to clean and do households.
• United States
1 Oct 10
My mother spent her whole life working on her career. She is intelligent and an asset to her profession. I do wish she hadn't been such a workaholic most of my life, but I would never have wished her to become a housewife just because she got knocked up. She is too valuable to just sit at home. Besides, the woman can't even boil water lol. For me, I have absolutely no inclination to have children. In fact, I outright refuse. However, for now, I enjoy being a housewife. It was not something I had ever planned for myself but it's not so bad. I still want a purpose and to be something invaluable like my mother was/is, but it's just not in the cards right now.
@prinzcy (32322)
• Malaysia
1 Oct 10
I would prefer to stay at home but still working at the same time. It's easier to take care of a family when we're at home. For the working part, these days, it's possible to work from home. We can do various jobs and try various thing. We don't really need to be in an office to earn an income.
@ebuscat (5935)
• Philippines
1 Oct 10
For me even if she is working mom there responsibility to cooked and care for the husband and there children is must.
@CTHanum (8234)
• Malaysia
1 Oct 10
a mom who stay and work at home!my mom is a full-time housewife. in my opinion moms should stay at home to take care the kids.but they also free to work at home as their hobby.so she can help to less the burden of the family or at least she won't feel boring or stress while at home.