SAHM vs. Career Woman
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by Marsha Maung
Sept 16th, 2008
Note: I published this article many eons ago but upon re-reading it, I want it to serve as a reminder for those who are considering making the switch from CAREER woman to a SAHM or WAHM. Sincerely hope it enlightens you... (marsha)
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I've wanted to write something like this for the longest time, really, I have been meaning to write an article like this but never did have enough support and material (and GUTS) to do it.
You see, let's start with how to evaluate the term 'housewife'. When you think 'housewife' or 'SAHM' (Stay At Home Mom), you think of an overblown Barbie doll with five kids hanging off her skirt, broom in hand, unkempt hair and leftover carrots and peas hanging off her smudged apron. Not a very 'sexy' image.
On the other hand, think career woman and you think of the actual Barbie doll with heels so high that she's literally tipping over, she has immaculate dressing, articulate communication skills, laptop over shoulder with a big job title and huge pay at the end of every month. Very attractive....
Which brings me back to my point...this is a case of housewife vs. career woman. Who is worth more? Actually, if you look the word 'housewife' up, you'll see that the term 'housewife' is referred to as a kind of occupation...a usually unpaid occupation with primary aim of caring for the family or kids. It's a job...an unpaid and inglorious one at that. But why?
Caring for loved one is the most important career ever...and I mean, EVER; and we're practically doing it unselfishly and unconditionally for the sake of the family. Then how come whenever you mention that you're a stay at home mom or stay at home dad, people give you that....'Oh, so, you don't work, huh?" look?
In fact, if I had it my way, I would go all out to employ housewives for one simple reason....they are capable of handling stress (think multiple screaming kids and a whole load of laundry to wash, dry and fold) and is so diverse that they can literally do four persons' job at the same time! As a housewife, they are involved in personal work, volunteer work, outdoor activities, education, religion, health, cooking, hygiene and general medicine! Wow, eh?
And funnily, even as a WORK at home mom, people look at me funny, as in.... "You don't have a job?" to which my quick retort would be, "Yes, I do. I have a job...two, in fact". A blank look follows and I quickly explain, "One, as a mother/wife. Two, as a copywriter and designer. Which one do you want me to elaborate on?".
I think people should give Stay At Home Moms a whole lot more respect that they are getting right now. After all, if you drag a SAHM out of her home and plonk her in one of those nice cushy CEO seats, she can probably do the job decently well. But if you drag a CEO out of her top floor office suite and make her take care of an army of kids, cook, clean, bathe, tutor and manage the home, they're a goner before the day is gone. Wouldn't you agree?
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Marsha Maung is a Malaysian-based freelance writer with two kids. She spends her time ferrying her kids around, watering her plants, writing web content, SEO stuff, ghostwriting books and also indulges in the occasional Facebook-ing. Visit her blog for more dirty details on the life and times of a mother, writer, designer, housekeeper, coffee-maker, poop-wiper, chef...and just about everything else under the sun.
REPUBLICATION RIGHTS! IMPORTANT!!
Listen up! I am a very nice person, if you think this article is neat and you'd like to publish it in your website, all's cool with me but with one condition. Only one and from the bottom of my heart, I wish that you would, in all sincerity, allow me my one single wish....to place the following codes into the your website at the END OF THE ARTICLE. It's not going to disrupt much, so please do it?
Either paste the above ABOUT THE AUTHOR stuff into your website (with links included) or copy the following codes into your website. That's it! Thank you! *muax*
<b>Marsha Maung</b> is a Malaysian-based <a href="http://www.marshamaung.com" target="_blank">freelance writer</a> with two kids. She spends her time ferrying her kids around, watering her plants, writing web content, SEO stuff, ghostwriting books and also indulges in the occasional Facebook-ing. Visit her <a href="http://www.marshamaung.blogspot.com" target="_blank">blog</a> for more dirty details on the life and times of a mother, writer, designer, housekeeper, coffee-maker, poop-wiper, chef...and just about everything else under the sun.
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