Obituaries and national/military honours represent some of the ways that our society rewards those who have made a significant contribution to the security and success of our society. Typically very few women are recognised in this way because even today women are more likely to take up supporting roles in society rather than, for example, risking their lives for others. This does not mean that women’s contribution cannot be valued but that while we rely on the skills that men have to protect and advance our society, it is very natural that they receive more of the limelight.
The promotion of equal opportunities in the workplace appears to imply that the former role of the housewife in supporting the family can be totally ignored by young people today. It’s almost as if we believe that the domestic overhead of adult life is somehow no longer relevant to younger generations.
For example, the art of preparing and presenting a wholesome and appealing family meal is a skill that has become undervalued in a world where most people microwave or eat fast food. If a working couple considers these issues to be important then they have to find a way to achieve a similar result by different means.
Today we educate our children, both girls and boys, to hope for a life in which they can develop themselves as individuals. It is equally important to educate children of both sexes to recognise that if they want to have a family they may also need to be willing to contribute to the daily practical tasks needed to support family life. Boys should be encouraged to participate in family life and allowed to grow up with confidence that their contribution to the family is valued.
Obtaining respect for the home role
In delegating to third parties the tasks normally performed by a housewife, working parents gain some appreciation of the value of the home role. Nosper.com aims to highlight the importance of the home manager role, whether fulfilled by a parent or part-time by a working parent with the assistance of a third party.
Women have a distinct advantage over men in appreciating the social aspects of our lives. It is important that we ensure that the opportunities available to younger women are fairly portrayed and fairly rewarded in terms of respect. Women need to present a united front that ensures:
- the needs of children are properly addressed and
- that society acknowledges the personal investment required (of carers and parents) in the vitally important area of family support.
Anyone, male or female, who works and has children is hypocritical if they do not appreciate the ‘home manager’ role as they rely on that person (housewife or carer) to cover the daily practicalities of their family responsibilities. Society needs to give thought to how we provide alternative family support as more women seek similar opportunities in their lives as men do.