Awhile ago, a good friend of mine sent me an email of a interesting article titled, "The Good Wife's Guide." The article was unaccredited and appeared in a 1955 magazine called Housekeeping Monthly. In today's era of "modern women" and feminism, the outdated article would serve as an excellent battle cry for the radical feminist movement. It's depiction of the "perfect" wife, complete with a picture of a cheery Wife/Mother, wearing an apron and pearls, serving hot, homemade cookies out of the oven to her adoring husband and children is offensive, sexist, racist and almost laughable. I doubt if any of "today's" women will laugh at it because I'm sure their feminist sisters have pointed out to them that here is yet more proof of how bad and evil men really are.
No, I don't want to go off on any shallow thoughts here, but I'm willing to bet this article has made its way to many email in-boxes around the world, not to mention bulletin boards at every Feminist Movement chapter in America. I'm assuming there will be many who have seen the article, but in fairness to those who haven't, here is the article as it appeared in Housekeeping Monthly.
THE GOOD WIFE'S GUIDE
* Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready and on time for his return home.This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are always hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal is part of the warm welcome needed.
*Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking. He has just spent 12 hours with a lot of work weary people.
*Be gay and interesting for him. His hard day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.
*Clear away the clutter. Make a last trip through the house just before your husband arrives.
*Over the cooler months of the year, you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift, too. After all, catering to his personal comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.
*Be happy to see him. Greet him with a warm smile. Show sincerity in your desire to please him.
*Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not one of them. Let him talk first. Remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.
*Try to make sure your home is a place of peace, order and tranquility where your husband can renew himself body and spirit.
*Don't complain if he's late for dinner. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through that day.
*Make him comfortable. Have him put his feet up and have a cool or warm drink ready for him.
*Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgement or integrity. Remember, he is the Master of the House, and as such, will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You h ave no right to question him.
*A Good Wife knows her place.
The collective breaths being drawn in by feminists and "modern" women everywhere is deafening. But, before you release your tirades of outrage over the sexist and racist attitudes of the article, bear in mind, the article was written in 1955. An era where obedience and servitude by women was the norm and the role-models for young housewives were the "Super-Moms", like Donna Reed, Harriet Nelson and the never without her pearls, June Cleaver. And although the article is unaccredited, it states that it was written by a woman. I'm sure the "Rad-Fems", (as I like to call them) will vehemently disagree on this. I can see the press release now....."This article could never have been written by a woman. It was obviously written by a man, once again, proving what self-centered, pompous asses they truly are......."
Man-Bashing has become quite fashionable (and profitable) in the media and feminist's circles these days and if the Radfems have to go back 50 years to find examples of unfair treatment to women and proof that men are inherently evil, even though when the present society no longer hinders women in any way.....then so be it. I suppose it's easier to man-bash then present an accurate and positive account of relations between the sexes.
With that said, I present my own list, built on the same premise, which is called, accurately enough...
THE GOOD HUSBAND'S GUIDE
*Stop and pick up dinner on your way home from work or be ready to prepare dinner once you arrive. Plan ahead and always know what your going to pick up or prepare. Indecision, however small, can lead to doubts about your ability to provide for your wife and children.
*Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to gather your thoughts before entering the house. Put any thoughts about your day or the exhaustion you feel, aside. Put a smile on your face and be fresh looking. Your wife has had a hard day cleaning, struggling with kids and dealing with flirty next-door neighbors. Be supportive. Take a breath mint.
*Make things interesting for her when you arrive. Her day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it. Gifts of flowers, candy, or cash are always helpful in putting her in a "non-yelling" mood and making her feel appreciated.
*Gather the children together and give them cash to be quiet for the rest of the night. The children are little treasures to your wife and she will treasure them more if they will be SILENT.
*Always be happy to see her. Greet her with a warm smile and a no limit Visa card. Be sincere in your desire to please her. Listen to her. You may have a dozen important things to tell her, but your arrival home is not the time. Let her talk first. Remember, her hard day of cleaning, struggling with kids and flirty next-door neighbors are topics of conversation more important than yours.
*Make the evening hers. Don't greet her with complaints or problems. Your 12-hour day and the need to put your feet up is secondary. Instead, try to understand her world of stress and pressure and her need to relax.
*Never question her actions, integrity or judgement concerning the workings of the house and flirty next-door neighbors. Remember, she is the Mistress of the house, and as such, will exercise her will with fairness and truthfulness.
*Most of all, never question her why she sometimes calls you Fred, which happens to be the name of your next door neighbor.
*A Good Husband knows when to shut-up.
Now, granted, my list is a bit exaggerated, but I think it illustrates an important difference. While the "Good Wife's Guide is outdated and laughable in its attitudes toward women, my list expresses many sentiments that is practiced, believed and upheld by many "modern wives" and the culture at large.
Although I feel my List is just as offensive and just as sexist, I'm willing to bet its a pretty accurate picture of the plight of many 'modern husbands". No one so much as blinks at the way some husbands and men in general, are treated in these times....and, as long as men are so thoroughly unappreciated and completely abused....but proud enough, strong enough and mature enough not to complain.....No one ever will.
And that's my deep thought for the day.
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