housewifery
Running a household
Housewifery is the work and skills involved in managing a household—cooking, cleaning, budgeting, childcare, and related domestic tasks.
The term sounds old-fashioned now, carrying assumptions about women's roles that have largely shifted: She was trained in the arts of housewifery.
The word sometimes appears in historical or ironic contexts.
Life centered around home
- homeboundConfined to one's residence
- apronWaist-tied protective garment
- housedressSimple garment for home
- dutifulMotivated by obligation
subservience · gendered · 1950s · postwar · breadwinner · stay-at-home · full-time · undervalued
Removing dirt and mess
- laundryItems needing cleaning
- ironingSmoothing cloth with heat
- dustingRemoving surface grime
- sweepingExtensive and far-reaching
mopping · vacuuming · scrubbing · washing · polishing · sanitizing · disinfecting · decluttering
Craft with needle and thread
- mendingRestoring damaged items
- embroideryDecorative stitching on fabric
- knittingLoop-based textile making
- crochetingCrafting with hooked needle
quilting · darning · cross-stitch · needlework · tatting · weaving · lace-making · smocking
Preparing food with heat
- bakingCooking with dry heat
- recipeCooking preparation instructions
- seasoningSubstance improving food taste
- preservingProtecting from deterioration
canning · pickling · fermenting · roasting · simmering · stewing · frying · sautéing
Attending to dependents
- motherhoodState of being a female parent
- child-rearingRaising and nurturing offspring
- affectionWarm emotional attachment
- patienceCalm during delays
compassion · guidance · bonding · devotion · warmth · tenderness · fostering · protection
domesticity
Life centered around home
- homeboundConfined to one's residence
- apronWaist-tied protective garment
- housedressSimple garment for home
dutiful · subservience · gendered · 1950s · postwar · breadwinner · stay-at-home · full-time · undervalued
cleaning
Removing dirt and mess
sweeping · mopping · vacuuming · scrubbing · washing · polishing · sanitizing · disinfecting · decluttering · organizing
sewing
Craft with needle and thread
- mendingRestoring damaged items
- embroideryDecorative stitching on fabric
- knittingLoop-based textile making
crocheting · quilting · darning · cross-stitch · needlework · tatting · weaving · lace-making · smocking · applique
cooking
Preparing food with heat
- bakingCooking with dry heat
- recipeCooking preparation instructions
- seasoningSubstance improving food taste
preserving · canning · pickling · fermenting · roasting · simmering · stewing · frying · sautéing · chopping
caregiving
Attending to dependents
- motherhoodState of being a female parent
- child-rearingRaising and nurturing offspring
- affectionWarm emotional attachment
patience · compassion · guidance · bonding · devotion · warmth · tenderness · fostering · protection · supportive
- homemakingcooking, cleaning, laundry, recipes, baking
- homesteadinghomesteading, self-sufficiency, off-grid living, off-grid, chicken coop
- femininitygracefulness, gentleness, softness, dainty, delicate
housewiferycareer
Lifelong occupational pursuit
wage labor · careerism · professional life · breadwinning · office work