housewife
Domestic sphere occupant
A housewife is a married woman whose primary occupation is managing the household—cooking, cleaning, childcare—rather than working for pay outside the home.
The term carries mid-twentieth-century associations when single-income families were the norm: a 1950s housewife, housewife and mother of three.
Some find it dated or diminishing; alternatives include homemaker or stay-at-home mom.
Removing dirt and mess
- cookingPreparing food with heat
- laundryItems needing cleaning
- ironingSmoothing cloth with heat
- dustingRemoving surface grime
mopping · sweeping · vacuuming · polishing · scrubbing · tidying · dishwashing · sanitizing
Married partner
- partnerOne who shares activity
- marriedJoined in matrimony
- matrimonyLegal union of spouses
- weddedJoined in matrimony
matron · homebound · dependent · breadwinner · traditional · suburban
Serialized melodramatic television drama
- sitcomEpisodic TV comedy series
- 1950sDecade after WWII
- apronWaist-tied protective garment
- stereotypesOversimplified beliefs about groups
feminism · domesticity · stay-at-home · supermom · liberation · drudgery · undervalued
Craft with needle and thread
- knittingLoop-based textile making
- crochetHooked needle needlework
- embroideryDecorative stitching on fabric
- quiltingLayered fabric stitching
mending · needlework · darning · cross-stitch · hemming · alterations · pattern · fabric
State of being a female parent
- parentingNurturing and guiding children
- caregivingAttending to dependents
- childcareSupervision of young ones
- bondingForming close connections
nurture · guidance · teaching · upbringing · nourishment · protection · support · tenderness
cleaning
Removing dirt and mess
dusting · mopping · sweeping · vacuuming · polishing · scrubbing · tidying · dishwashing · sanitizing · decluttering
spouse
Married partner
wedded · matron · homebound · dependent · breadwinner · traditional · suburban
soap-opera
Serialized melodramatic television drama
stereotypes · feminism · domesticity · stay-at-home · supermom · liberation · drudgery · undervalued
sewing
Craft with needle and thread
- knittingLoop-based textile making
- crochetHooked needle needlework
- embroideryDecorative stitching on fabric
quilting · mending · needlework · darning · cross-stitch · hemming · alterations · pattern · fabric · thread
motherhood
State of being a female parent
- parentingNurturing and guiding children
- caregivingAttending to dependents
- childcareSupervision of young ones
bonding · nurture · guidance · teaching · upbringing · nourishment · protection · support · tenderness · affection
- homemakershomemaker, homemakers, househusbands, stay-at-home mom, stay-at-home dad
- gender stereotypesboys will be boys, pink for girls, blue for boys, man up, strong men
- home lifehome, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, living room
- 1950sEisenhower, poodle skirt, Elvis Presley, Rosa Parks, baby boom
- femaleswoman, girl, lady, mother, daughter
- Wivesspouse, bride, newlywed, Mrs., child bride
housewifecareer woman
Female dedicated to profession
working woman · breadwinner · businesswoman · working mother · careerist
- Real HousewivesFranchise following affluent women
- suburban housewife
- frumpy housewife