Katrina Holte, an Oregon woman, quit her job in a busy payroll department to become a 1950s housewife. Of course, she asked her husband, Lars, for permission first, and now she cooks his meals and lays out his clothes early each morning. She’s happy to do dishes and laundry, while dressing up, with a face full of makeup. Is this some kind of one-woman protest against a half-century of feminist progress? Or has this cultural revolutionary found a new path to power?
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15 replies on “Happy Housewife Revives 1950s, Delights in Dishes, Laundry and Dressing Up”
Bill makes a good point on the power of women in the past. You might like to watch this vid on the subject from English youtuber Nikolas Lloyd. AKA Lindybeige.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrgovSZ32Yg
Just a reboot of Marabel Mogan’s book, “The Total Woman,” in the early 70’s. She was the one that advocated meeting your hubby at the door wrapped in Saran Wrap. It was quite the scandalous book talked about ad nauseum on tv shows. This was at the beginning of the women’s movement. “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.” Her unofficial tag line. “Fried Green Tomatoes,” with Kathy Bates, was a spoof on that book. I was a housewife and mother. It is an never-ending job. Not for the faint of heart. No breaks, no vacation, no thank you, constant worry and heavy responsibility. 24/7, 365. Forever. Working a job would have been child’s play.
If I was in the right mood and I knew the person who was a vegetarian has a sense of humor, I would say, “Really? Have you ever tasted bacon?” If no then “ok.that explains it. Poor soul.” If yes then, ” Wow. Incredible discipline. “
I do follow Bill’s point about women being stewards or heads of a household when the lord of the manor was gone, and would guess many men picked wives as much based on their business acumen and connections as looks during certain periods of time. Much of what we now think of as women’s work wasn’t all that easy in the days before all of the “labor saving” devices. When reading and writing were very necessary to handle and fill out bills of sale for household goods, list of goods to purchase, math to add the various purchases and make sure a trader or merchant did not cheat you, and all of the other skills that were “needed at an acceptable level”.
I also think of these examples when people talk about the right to vote for women and why I’m not surprised that the western states were far more progressive about certain things. When everyone, white, black or yellow, man or woman, were doing many of the same tasks side by side you quickly realize everyone’s the same in many ways. Integrated fighting corps also taught the same lessons to many of many colors through out the ages.
My husband and I have been married for 45 years. We raised two children and now have 5 Grandchildren. I have worked inside and outside our home and I have enjoyed my life because I did what I wanted to do with unlimited support of my husband. I enjoyed the freedom of running a household and totally agree with Mrs. Holte when she says she likes to get things done! The only criticism I received when I was a happy housewife was from other women.
Thank you for this show. You both have common sense. I appreciate hearing it!
You’re a lucky gal! The sad truth is many men also do not value women who do this. For some, even the husband disrespects the wife and will accuse her of using him as a meal ticket, no matter how much she tries to run the home and the financial security that means she is able to do that. She is perceived as having no value unless she can show a pay check from outside the home, and of COURSE the kids will be fine in day care, that’s just an excuse because she is lazy and ultimately worthless if she is not working outside the home. I think when men are like that, it might be because being the sole financial provider scares them and they are bucking the responsibility. But there are plenty like that. Like you, I have worked part and full time, raised a family, looked after sick parents, project managed our home build (am a dab hand at drywall now), it seemed to be a good balance. Not everyone has agreed. For some your value is purely what money you can bring to the mix.
Feminazism is just another “be like me or else” leftist group of bullies. I started working at 14 yrs old and only had two breaks during my working years where I was blessed to be a housewife. I mixed it up with the best of the men during my career and enjoyed it immensely. But I never viewed a job as being more than it was – a means to an end – namely, to pay the bills, have money for vacations, luxuries, etc. Now that I’m retired, widowed and on a limited income, I’m still happy and would challenge any feminazi to a duel.
And my personal guess is that you would win the duel handily.
I forgot to share one important piece of my story.
As my husband lay paralyzed in the hospital, our “pastor” told him God was killing him because of our evil egalitarian ways. I was on Salem Christian Radio at the time. Had Dan been doing his job, he would not have allowed the little woman to preach. This could have been laughable under different circumstances. But Dan had brain cancer. The swelling on his brain required he be kept calm. This pastor’s attack gave Dan a massive seizure from which he never recovered. He died sooner as a direct result.
So while women have equal opportunities and equal pay in the secular arena, this is sadly not true in parts of the church. The same scriptures that used to be used to justify slavery are still being used to justify keeping women in their place.
I have no wish to start a debate on women in ministry. But I want to point out that ideas have consequences.
I think a lot of the roles for men and women in the church need to be looked at in the metaphorical role they play. There are a number of roles only men should have but as a representation of the Christ – Church relationship, and other roles have other reasons. I think in some churches the reasons are forgotten or twisted, and slavishly following a rule for the wrong reason is just as bad as following a wrong rule for a good reason.
I also don’t think my church teaches the “you’re being punished in this life for sin” idea of your husband being killed for doing or not doing something. We usually speak of being tested at times, and the “I know God won’t give me anything I cannot handle, I just wish He didn’t trust me so much” quip really resonates with me but except for certain examples where people did something and were punished directly… that’s Old Testament when the prophets were speaking directly with God and could go do a miracle to prove they had the real Word. Under the New covenant I don’t think that’s really the case.
I should probably, as Scott says, make a blog post out of this.
I should probably put in clarifying comment as well… society in general treating all of its members the same isn’t quite the same as individual private groups not doing so. The churches (of any or all religions) have their own proscriptions on the “pursuit of happiness” such that some say you shouldn’t pursue happiness with a different person each week and others don’t want you pursuing happiness with someone your same sex (at least for guys, as some will throw you off buildings).
The phrase “being in the world but not of the world” I think applies very much in this case.
I am sorry for your loss, Eowyn.
Thank you, Emma.
You guys nailed it, as usual. Women (and men) should be free to choose their vocation without being looked at askance by people.
I was blessed with a wonderfully supportive husband who insisted I pursue my dreams while he paid the bills. I was able to work as a professional stage actress for many years, making very little money, working for love of my vocation. When God called me to the ministry, I left the stage for the pulpit. Again, no money in this call. But Dan insisted I do what I felt called to do and allow him to support the family. During this time, i enjoyed taking care of him; preparing elaborate gourmet dinners. Then we adopted 7-year-old twins with special needs. Within 3 months Dan was diagnosed with brain cancer. Within a year, I found myself alone with profoundly disturbed children to raise. Lamb chops with red-wine reduction sauce has given way to mac-n-cheese. The house is less than immaculate. I’m completing my MDiv and serving in ministry for a stipend…
Oh well, the kids are coming along nicely and another has moved in…
God’s got this.
But I sure wish I could go on that cruise. Ahhhh…. Rest….
I was a happy housewife until my youngest turned eight. During those years, I had a clean house, I made baby and toddler clothes and some clothes for myself. I baked goodies and made more complicated meals. I crafted, such as macrame; embroidery; crochet; wood burning; quilting and even made my own small loom so I could weave wall hangings. I handmade many Christmas, birthday and anniversary gifts, which had the additional plus of saving money. I loved every single minute of it. Then I worked in a hospital, worked for the Teamsters Union as a secretary/insurance clerk and then was a legal assistant for 33 years and loved every single minute of it. I’m now retired and, due to physical limitations, very limited in doing the things I loved doing all those years ago. I can no longer do most of the crafting, I don’t cook elegant meals very often and I’m limited to only light housework. The only thing about this time of my life is communication with my family and the friends I’ve made pretty much all over the world, many of whom call me mom. I’m now working harder than I ever did at a job in trying to get a wonderful young man in Zambia to America to get a good education. I started a group on Facebook called Mathews’ Family to gather people, 400 so far, to help accomplish that goal. I’ve also started a group on Facebook called the Cranky Old Women’s Society to provide a place where harried women can go to laugh and relax. So, I’ve pretty much had the best of both worlds and the most important thing about it is that I’ve done it by my own choice, at least the majority of the time. I’ve never been a slave to society, just as I’ve never been a slave to fashion or to pop culture. I enjoy making decisions for myself and having opinions that don’t necessarily match those of others (leftists, for the most part). In other words, I’ve enjoyed being me and living my life the way I decided is best for me. I wish that opportunity could be available for everyone.