The 1950's Woman...

I would love to know how they did it in the 1950's. I try getting up at 5 am and still don't get it all accomplished. I even write lists and check off what I need to do. Then I am wiped out. I had a boyfriend once who, as wonderful as he was, wanted me to be a doll. I mean like Betty Crocker with heels and pearls. He wanted my hair done, nails done, house spotless, dinner cooked, and be at a PTA meeting for his son all the time. I loved that boy and still do, I only wish I could be all that. Wow, that wore me out just reminiscing about it! I think they had more patience back then and different things to do. The security was there because back then you could have one income and still be comfortable. There is the "mothers little helper" that played alot in it too. But then again, Kudos to them! I don't think there is enough "mothers little helper" in the world to keep me right!! God Bless those women though.

The 50's woman did not work. My mother did not get a job until all the children were grown up and working. They cleaned the house and had social groups so they had a lot less stress.

These days most women have no choice but to work. The cost of living is higher, it is harder to manage the meager amount of money they get. I never had children but I found working a full time job to be stressful enough, managing the house as well as a full time job felt like doing 2 jobs and it used to wear me out.

Now I am home all day because I am ill. I do not get as much house work done as I do not have the energy for it. The thing is that you do not know what is causing these women stress. It could be money or illness or just despair.

In the 1950's a salary was supposed to provide for a man with a stay at home wife and children. They had married wages and single wages. These days the wages are linked to the work type. No one cares if you are single or have a family to feed. Many people just do not earn enough to feed their family these days and it is wrong. Cost of living is so much higher now than in those days.

I bought a book writen in the early 60's about how to keep a home. It was such and eyeopener to me. I felt so much better about the woman I am and the woman I am ment to be. I take pride in the fact that my job as a housewife is a worthwile job to do. It seems to be a dyeing job and it has been easy to feel like I can be doing more. I love what I do, but I do not wear dresses and pumps. Im still working on it though.

This is a great discussion! I often feel I was born too late. I wish I could wear those dresses like that, have actual cooked dinner on the table every night. My mom always cooked dinner....we rarely ate out.
Society has changed us. We're not allowed to stay home and watch our own kids anymore, due to the cost of living and all, and yes women have come a long way and great, women power, however, I wish we didn't have as much say in things, so that I COULD be a mom to my kids more. I work from home, so I AM home, however, am always doing something and feel pressed for time constantly. And we're not living the way we want to...we're living on necessities which is fine, I'm not a materialistic person at all, BUT it would be great to pay EVERY single bill, EVERY month ON TIME as well!! We have cut back on so much too, but still we struggle. Life is a constant battle, and it just seems like things were more peaceful back then. They had probs as well of course, and maybe all I know is stuff from the 50's TV shows, haha...BUT it makes me wonder where we as a society will be in 50 years from now? Scares me a bit....too reliant on technology and the 'easy-way-out' these days...I just can't imagine how things will be then for our children and our grandchildren....easier??? Or more probs, as each generation has though!!

Most of them were whacked out on valium.

Reading your discussion, the thing that popped into my mind was that back then t.v.'s and radio's were scarce. To be honest, I don't remember when I've been told T.V.'s were first invented. I think that people were doing more activities such as walking and well keeping up the house and sewing, they had more energy because they weren't always on the couch, instead they were making an afghan for the back of the couch. I think it's amazing to read about all that women did back then. It reminds me of a article I saw online that was in an old magazine of a 1950's housewife and their duties to the husband. Thinking about it, the wife did have so much on her plate to do.

I do believe myself to be a strong woman but i had good teachers. My mother & both grandmothers were strong women so i had very good examples.

i never read a long discussion frankly but yours was the first. i like your topic. am a stay at home mom and it is only now that i realized that it is the women of the 50's i have in my head as an ideal wife. as with the house i do try my best. i mean i get up, bathe myself, prepare my child's food to school, drops him off, spend an hour online to work, turn off the computer for 30 minutes to do chores, work again, fetch my son from school, prepare the things he need to study at home, work online again, rest the computer, do chores, take my shower to prepare for the night, teach my child again in his school lessons, bathe him...if i can get some more time to work online...good. prepare nightime snacks for my two boys: child and husband . sans the pumps and well-kept hair. i have to cut mine.