by Carrington M. Nye

Created on: August 14, 2010

The title of this article irks me beyond belief: 'Are Working women happier than those who depend upon a man's wages?' Indeed!

Far from my bra burning sisters of the sixties, I would have gladly been Donna Reed in her ruffled apron and heels; yet even I take offense to the title and the implications associated with said title of this so-called debate, more so because I am perhaps the targeted miserable kept woman whom this article aims to debase.

Honestly, I could not be happier working hard to raise our sons and continue my education in my late 30's as opposed to working full-time and never getting to see my boys at all; as they say: no one lies on their deathbed wishing they had put in more hours at the office! The fact that I was a working professional in my former life has no bearing at all on whether or not I was happy or am happy in my capacity as a lowly stay-at-home Mother.

Yes, my feathers are ruffled and I am incensed by the very idea that because I depend on my husband to live I am less than a whole person who does not (or perhaps does not) contribute to our livelihood just by breathing! I happen to have a very important role in the family dynamics here at home; I teach my boys how to act, I oversee the household budget, I cook the meals, clean the dust, wash the clothes, and even have time to take out the trash. Being a full-time stay-at-home Mother is perhaps one of the most important jobs any woman can ever do and one of the least rewarded.

I would absolutely love to come face-to-face with the brainiac who suggested this as a topic for an article, let alone for an actual debate among us women; as if we need more ammunition to point at one another, as if being catty because she has a smaller waist size or her golden locks are never one centimeter out of place isn’t enough to make us screech like the proverbial cats we can be at our worst.

 We may smile to one another’s faces, but in all reality there are those evil thoughts that pass through our minds about one another, it is as second nature as drinking when thirsty – and no less a part of our very DNA. Why this should be true is something I may never truly understand, but true it is, no matter how many women may state publicly that it is a ridiculous notion.

 So, whoever you are: leave the happiness debate where it belongs: among married versus single people or childless couples versus those with prodigy. Working for wages does not happiness make – that is a myth.

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