Since the dawn of time, men and women have had a symbiotic relationship in which men were hunter-gatherers and women were caretakers. However, we’ve come a long way since early human existence. Needs and circumstances have changed, and in 2023, it’s rare to find a housewife. However, in the 1950s, most women aspired to be “good housewives.” So much so that in 1955 a guide was published with tips and advice for women to follow.
Housekeeping Monthly
In May 1955, Housekeeping Monthly published “The Good Wife’s Guide.” Within the guide are around 15-20 “helpful tips” to being a good housewife. Unsurprisingly, many are outdated, and few women today would abide by these rules.
The Guidelines
According to the guide, the first rule of being a good housewife, have dinner ready. Many of us today struggle to find the inspiration to cook after a long day. However, in the 1950s, a woman’s job was to cook, clean, and so on. This means that one of her most important job duties was meal planning and prep. It was recommended to have the meal ready when her husband got home from work. This showed him she prioritized him and his needs. Further suggesting that planning the day before might be helpful to ensure the meal is ready on time.
Next, being a good housewife requires some preparation. Prior to your husband coming home, it was suggested that a woman take about 15 or so minutes to freshen up, rest a little and touch up hair and make-up. This was because he’s spent all day with “work-weary people”. Similarly, it was suggested she be “a little gay and more interesting” because, after a long workday, he might need a pick-me-up.
Before a housewife should expect her husband home, she should also do one last check through the house. Eliminating any residual clutter or dust. Furthermore, a good housewife ensured the children had clean hands, faces, clothes, and hair. Additionally, making sure the kids and appliances, like the washer, were quiet.
Read: This Woman Quit Her Job To Live The Life of a 1950s Housewife
More to Being a Housewife
Another set of guidelines to help make a good housewife were in regard to how a woman should interact with her husband. Firstly, she should never complain to him after he’s had a long day at work. Moreover, never sharing about the day until he’s had an opportunity to do so. She should be enthusiastic to see him, greeting him with a smile, and willing to do whatever he desires. Essentially, the makings of a good housewife are those who create an environment of peace, tranquility, and silence for her husband. An environment in which he can come home to and “ renew himself in body and spirit.” Moreover, the evenings were meant to be his, therefore a good housewife never complained if her husband was late or wanted a night out to himself.
Trust and Tranquility
Following up on creating a tranquil environment, a good housewife was instructed to make her husband a drink, speak to him in a calm and soothing voice, and arrange the pillows for him, allowing him to lie or sit down comfortably to rest and recover. Additionally, taking off his shoes for him. It also was suggested that having a cozy fire lit for cold months. This would help make the home more comforting and inviting. Thereby creating a space of tranquility for him.
Lastly, a good housewife never questioned her husband’s decisions. She trusted that he always knew what he was doing and believed him to be the master of the house. Consequently, a good housewife was also to “know her place.”
Brief reminder of Women’s Rights
These guidelines, and other societal rules, have sent women the message that they’re meant to obey their husbands. However, for generations, women have fought for equality. Post WW2 technological advancements made household chores both easier and less time-consuming.
As a result, with more free time, women went to work to help support their families. It didn’t take long for them to realize that gender equality didn’t exist at home or in the workplace. Thus, setting off The Women’s Rights Movement just a decade after the Good Wife’s Guide was published. Primarily occurring in the United States during the ’60s, and ’70s, the movement was considered a “second phase of feminism,” following the movement that took place during the late 1800s and early 1900s.
While it’s important to honor and respect your partner, these days the Guide to Being a Good Housewife seems a little unreasonable and maybe even obsolete. And with how far women’s rights have come, it’s not a wonder why. While the movement pushed for equality, the core message goes much deeper. The message expresses a desire for freedom and rights, the ability for women to make their own choices. With that in mind, some women have set out on a mission for financial prosperity. Meanwhile, still today others choose to be a housewife. Either way, all anyone really wants is to be free to pursue the life they desire.
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