"We don 't believe in that [WOHM]"

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-11-2005
"We don 't believe in that [WOHM]"
2078
Mon, 01-09-2006 - 11:31am

On Friday, as I was driving hom from work, I stumbled across an interview with the wife of the one surviving miner from the collapse in WVa. In the course of the interview, someone asked her if she worked.

Her response was that they don't believe in that. She explained that her husband was very proud of the fact that he was the sole supporter of the family, and that he didn't need her help in supporting them. She explained that they just don't believe in women working after they have kids and husbands, and that they believe her place is at home with the kids.

My heart really goes out to her, and this post isn't about her, but about the sentiment that women shouldn't work because their place is at home. And being a real man, even if it means working in dangerous conditions, long hours, holding two jobs and being a step away from poverty at every turn, means that your wife doesn't work.

I suppose this is the first time that I've heard someone, not a movie character or a character in a book, express this sentiment. I don't understand why anyone would be proud to limit their spouse's potential. Or why be proud that you live right on the poverty line?

If they didn't see the dangers of their POV before, surely that entire community, and even the whole country, has now seen the risk that we talk about on here all the time, the risk that suddenly the SAHM will need to find a way to financially support the family. I wonder if anyone will re-think what they believe in.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-03-2005
NOTA?
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-11-2005
well duh...if okie considers a sahm a mom who is not employed, then that does translate to unemployed, right? sure sounds MORE HONEST than some made up category, Stay At Home Mother on an irs report lois.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-22-2005
I don't unserdatnd how yaq'll think this is impossible. My sister and I knew we had to let my mother know where we were at ALL times, and what she and my father said goes. It really that hard of a concept to grasp? Are ya'lls children REALLY that horrible? I should think not, it called parenting. I'm not claiming to know it all, and I know he'll lie to me about where he's going (I did it), but he will respect me, and he will know that I love him, and that is why I demand so much out of him.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Possibley. (I should have added a wink to my response.) It was meant to be tongue in cheek. Got to get more coffee.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
None of the above.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-04-1997
Whoa, Karen, guess you're off HER Christmas card list. Oh well.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-22-2005
Definately understandable, and something I know I will have to do in a few years. But still, notice, she *is* on a schedule. I'm not saying schedules are strict, just that there is a sense of normalcy, of "okay, this is what is happening AROUND this time". See what I mean?
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
If we want anarchy- first we need to kill all the lawyers.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-04-1997
Weel, it's fine with me if you SAHMs want to start calling this the employed vs unemployed mothers debate. Why don't you contact I-Village about it?
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-11-2005

limited view............did i read that right pnj?

bwah..where on earth is the meow when you need it.

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