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| No | 23% | 93 votes | Total: 400 votes | |
| Yes | 77% | 307 votes |
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Add to FavoritesWorking outside the home and traditional family gender roles: Is it time to reconsider?
First of all, HUH? That was my first reaction when I read this debate topic. What exactly are we supposed to be reconsidering? And what are "traditional family gender roles"? Are tradional family gender roles where Mom spends all day at home in her dress and high heels as she cooks and cleans. Then Dad comes home in the evening from working at the office and after dinner he sits in his easy chair smoking his pipe and reading the paper. Of course the wife has had to wait for the husband to get home to drive her to the grocery store, because, well it isn't very feminine for a woman to be driving.
OK, that is all a bit extreme, I know. But still ARE traditional family gender roles where the man works outside the home and the woman stays home and tends to the children and the house? IF that is the case, I honestly believe that has NEVER happened.
Seems to me like women have been working outside the home for thirty, forty, fifty, sixty years or longer. Men have been helping with the children and household chores for just as many years. MY own grandmother worked outside the home at an office job as early as sometime in the thirties. My other grandmother tended to the animals on the farm back then too. Both of my grandfathers washed dishes, cooked, and helped change babies diapers. My great-grandmother worked the books for the farm they tended to, harvested the crops, and did the farm's and the family taxes.
Both of my parents worked outside the home while we were growing up. I also remember both of my parents spending plenty of time with me and my four siblings. I remember my dad vacuuming and doing other household chores. One thing my dad didn't do was cook, because well he was not much of a cook (still isn't). He did however go to the grocery store and buy frozen meals he could put in the oven which decades later became the microwave. Recently my mom was on the hospital for about a month. So I went to help out my dad. My mom kept telling me to be sure to help my dad and, to tell the truth, I couldn't figure out what he needed help with. He knows how to do laundry, how to wash dishes, how to clean and vacuum and of course how to microwave a dinner. I even asked him what he needed help doing. His response was "Nothing really".
So, in my opion I don't believe there has ever really been a "traditional family gender role".
As far as working outside the home the traditions of gender specific jobs was broken many decades ago. Women have been working outside the home for quite some time now. There are many women who have been working in "traditional male jobs"; doctors, construction workers, fire fighters, police officers, military combat, professional athletes and a host of many other jobs. Men have been working for quite sometime at "traditional female jobs" as well; teachers, nurses, secretaries, wait staff, librarians, and many other jobs.
So to answer the question: "Working outside the home and traditional family gender roles: Is it time to reconsider?" Huh, I don't think so. If we reconsidered NOW, it would mean that women stayed at home tending to all the children's needs as well as all the household's needs and DON'T work outside the home at all. It would also mean that men went to the office, then came home and did nothing around the house to help with the children and household chores. That has not happened in many many years, and NOPE, I don't believe it should. Each gender, both male and female should share equally with household work and if possible work outside the home. That is what I believe makes for a healthy happy home.
Learn more about this author, Jill Ardary.
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Yes
Over the years many things have changed, especially for women. Not only do us women have a right to vote, speak our mind and live freely. We also have the right to work outside of the home. Women are very capable of doing the same work as men. It will not make a father less of a man if he stays home with the children, it just shows he's caring, responsible and loves his family. I know plenty of fathers who decided to take care of their household while their partners work. They do an absolutely wonderful job at holding everything together. I also know a few men who are single fathers, and they also do an amazing job at taking care of their children and working!
Many men are capable of staying home and taking care of their child/children while their partner works. There is no reason why a male can't do the same household duties as a female. I believe there is no such thing as "women work". As the old saying goes "A woman's place is in the kitchen" well if that's the truth, why is more than half the chefs in the world male? Sexism has thankfully decreased since those times, but obviously not enough if this topic is still being discussed.
Attitudes regarding the proper roles of men and women in society seemingly no longer follow a fully traditional pattern. In the past, women were meant to have babies, cook, clean and basically be servants to their family. I'm grateful that most cultures have scratch out that way of thinking. Being a stay at home parent should be a rewarding job, not slavery work. I myself am a stay at home mom and I love it. Being able to help my child learn and grow feels wonderful. Even before I was a stay at home parent I had these same theories. Women and men are equals, we are all humans and should be treated with respect. We should all be able to do what we want and not be judged. Whether it's a man wanting to be a make up artist or a women wanting to become a mechanic no one should stop their dreams. We all only live once, make the best of it. Follow dreams, goals and leave the negative behind.
The experience of being independent outside the home and developing other skills as a parent will help parents thrive in life. I feel that all parents should take a break from watching their children 24/7, whether it's a mini vacation or even taking turns working. Getting away a few times a week will refreshes your senses, and make you less stressed. Children are a blessing, don't get me wrong but not having adult time can make one extremely agitated and stressed. Parent are not horrible people by getting away for awhile, no one should feel guilty for working or socializing. As long as it's in moderation and family comes first.
Being a full time parent is hard work that should be appreciated. All stay at home parents should receive a huge pat on the back whether they are male or female. Times have changed, and so should this topic on family gender roles.
Learn more about this author, Momma Melly.
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