Grass is always greener

I watched 60 minutes last night and they did a story on how more and more women these days are choosing to be housewives. They claim that even most women who are working would prefer to stay at home. (No they didn't interview me) Keep in mind, this is Australia we are talking about. Also keep in mind, this is something the media has looked into.

They featured 3 women and also spoke to Germaine Greer. Of the 3 women they spoke to, one of them scared me the most.

One woman is a housewife after giving up a job in the corporate world as an accountant to look after her children and husband. However, she has started a business from home and has written books about the same.

Another woman is the CEO of the Boost Juice company and manages to juggle home and work even if it is a struggle. But she won't have it any other way. She gave a brilliant analogy of how life can either be a rollercoaster or a merry-go-round. And hers is a roller coaster.

The third one, the one that scared me, is a housewife who cooks and cleans for her husband and who looks after her child. She sees to it that his dinner is on the table by the time he is home from work.

"This is going to sound really old fashioned now - I believe that financially, if
you can afford it the woman stays at home, cooks, cleans, looks after the child,
the husband works, he comes home, you look after him when he comes home because he's been out working all day and he's the one who's paying for...paying all the bills. That's, I believe that that is the role of the women and the husband"

"He expects, he does, he expects his dinner to be on the table for him when he
gets home."

A much bigger concern was when she said he was in charge of the finances. That he gave her the money to spend. And that she did not have a say in it. And she looked happy saying all this.

"Interviewer: So, when you say Frankie gives you the housekeeping every week how does that work?
Woman 3: Oh, Frankie just gives me a certain amount of money.
Interviewer: So does he decide how much you get, or do you decide together?
Woman 3: No, I didn't have a choice in that."

I wonder if she has heard of emotional abuse.

I'm not dissing women who choose to be housewives. Good on them if they are happy with their decision. But giving full control to your husband --- there's a huge power imbalance there! This woman doesn't work and is totally and utterly dependent on her husband. I worry for her future.

My mum is a housewife. But the difference was that she was incharge of the finances. Dad would come home and give her his pay. So even though he was the one bringing in the money, there was no power struggle there. He never said that there was only a certain amount he would give her for "housekeeping" Plus my dad helped out with some household chores like dusting and ironing (Bless him!)

This woman and the first woman were complaining about what feminists did to them in that they are expected to juggle everything which is apparently not possible.

I'd like to ask them: would they be saying the same if they didn't have all the opportunities we have now? Would they be saying the same if they were in a country where they were ruled like the Taliban?

Coming from a background where women are treated as second class citizens I know I am so fortunate for feminist movements.

For women's rights.

For being able to be free.

For being able to voice my opinions.

For choice.

For the opportunities.

If my husband turns out to be like Frankie, he is going to get his arse kicked out the door. Then again, I wouldn't go for a chauvinist any way.

I want my life to be a roller coaster.

Until next time,

Cheers!!!