A view from May 1955 - A Good Wife

[DearAbby]

/r:f

she knows her place. Thankfully we have progressed since then. Come see what the GOP wishes to take us back too.

[knowbody0]

1. my mum did all that

I remember telling myself that I NEVER would.

[tomg]

2. I think I should use that in

my college writing class. You cannot believe how many of the young women in classes say "I am for equal rights and all, but I am not a feminist." Most of them honestly believe that social equality has been achieved.

[KT2000]

3. Yes -a friend's mother

was put in the mental hospital (on a regular basis) when she got uppity and did not behave like that.
Man - there were some miserable women in those days. I feel for them.

[gateley]

11. That happened to Francis Farmer - and she was eventually given a lobotomy!

She wasn't married, just railing and furious against people trying to make her conform.

[Cleita]

4. My mom was a wife in 1955 but she never did

any of that. She couldn't cook and was a terrible housekeeper, but my dad adored her so we ate out a lot or brought food home from restaurants and he hired someone to come in and clean the house once a week. Laundry was sent out too. I learned at a very early age to do my own laundry and ironing. Although I taught myself to cook and clean, domestic chores are way down on my list of important things to do as well although unlike my mother I do eat at home most of the time and clean my own house.

[EFerrari]

21. My mom and grandmother were like your mom, Cleita.

At home, someone else had done everything. We rarely had anyone in to help in those days so the house was pretty chaotic and eating was a dicey proposition. lol By the time I was ten, I was more or less obsessed with making the house run better because of the four of us, I was the only one that minded the disorder.

[OKNancy]

5. snopes

http://www.snopes.com/language/document/goodwife.asp

[gateley]

8. I read something - a best seller, as a matter of fact if I recall correctly - very

similar written in the early 70's! It was 'don't criticize, it will make him feel less of a man' - stuff like that. So I'm inclined to think that this may be legit.

[DearAbby]

6. Did you read some of those

Don't question his judgment...you have no right.

If he is late or doesn't come home at all, don't question him, he has had a tough day at work,(gag) you have no idea. (retch)

[OmahaBlueDog]

7. Damn, I was born in the wrong era

I can tell you this right now - if I'm out all night, Mrs. OBD will have some questions...and some comments.

[gateley]

I doubt if you'd hear them seeing as how the locks would have been changed and

she wouldn't answer the door! :7

[OmahaBlueDog]

15. Good point, but according to Mrs. OBD...

the comments would be the last thing I hear before the F-150 runs over me.

[gateley]

18. Bwah! I guess that's as it should be! nt

[XemaSab]

9. MST3K takes on "The Home Economics Story"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoqtTrb3I0w

[DearAbby]

14. lol I remember that episode

:rofl:

[XemaSab]

10. The thing that's so crazy to me is that 10 years earlier these women were working in factories

:P

[gateley]

13. And flying airplanes. nt

[pinboy3niner]

16. And today, they're fighter pilots

[gateley]

12. Let him talk first. Remember his topics of conversation are more important than yours.

Every man I've been with can tell you what I have to say is always the most important! :7

[pinboy3niner]

17. Good for you, gateley!

Even as a male, I can appreciate that turnabout is fair play. Perhaps you should write a book--your "training" secrets would be in high demand. :)

[rug]

19. The third one suggests threesomes.

[lumberjack_jeff]

20. I'm the stay-at-home in my household.

I consciously or subconsciously do about 2/3 of these things. I draw the line at touching up my makeup.

[EFerrari]

23. LOL. One of my favorite things about my first husband

was that he could manage just fine in any room of the house, including the kitchen. We both worked and we both did everything at home and that's what the boys grew up with. Oh, and we both didn't wear make up except on stage. :)

[sufrommich]

22. This isn't real. It's a modern photoshop according to Snopes.

A popular urban legend that has been around since the 1980s.

[Cruzan]

24. Most of these are actually OK.

If you are a housewife and have a very hard working husband, the idea of making the home a refuge, a place of comfort and rest, is something I have no problem with.

The only parts I do have problems with are pretty much what others have already highlighted:

* his topics of conversation are more important than yours.
* Never complain if he comes home late or goes out without you.
* Don't complain if he stays out all night.
* You have no right to question him.

The second and third ones might be acceptable only if done rarely *and* if he calls in advance with a good reason. The other two really go against any notion of mutual respect and appreciation, which I think are required in any healthy marriage.