Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 (Tek) 9/26/83; site tektronix.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxj!houxm!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!tektronix!moiram From: moiram@tektronix.UUCP (Moira Mallison ) Newsgroups: net.singles Subject: deaf eyes Message-ID: <3650@tektronix.UUCP> Date: Thu, 20-Sep-84 16:49:57 EDT Article-I.D.: tektroni.3650 Posted: Thu Sep 20 16:49:57 1984 Date-Received: Tue, 25-Sep-84 07:34:58 EDT Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR Lines: 48 (* why am I trying to make a reasoned response to rainbow? *) >>Stereotypes are hard to break, especially when there continue to be >>numerous examples to support the expected roll. For instance, I know a >>number of "housewives" who actually do do nothing but sit around the house. >>They sleep late(possible getting up for a short time to send the kids off >>to school). Go out for late breakfast or early lunch with the neighbors to >>gab. Back for the afternoon soaps. And then of course the late afternoon >>phone sessions. Now these people don't believe in cooking because their >>husbands can afford to take them out and therefore insist upon it. They >>send the laundary to the cleaners. Dishes get thrown into the washer. >>Cleaning is a mutual job done on weekends. Work around the house is done >>by the man. They lead a typical life of leisure. A sap if you may. They >>milk their good fortune for all its worth. Its enough to make me look >>real hard before ever considering marriage. So, when someone says they >>are a housewife, I'm not surprised its looked upon as a putdown. I know >>my presented scenerio does not hold true for all, but you should realize >>this behavior is common enough to somewhat warrant the stereotypical >>responses you've seen. . . . >Deaf eyes; the art of reading what isn't there and not reading what is. My >sympathies. > >Bizarre view??? I comment upon someone being amazed that housewives are looked >down upon. I give an example of a couple people I know trying to explain >why this experienced behavior is so. I clearly state numerous times that >this is only true for a small minority. Yet since there are still valid >examples which we all(most) can probably think of, the stereotype image will >remain. All it takes is one bad apple to perpetuate a myth. You certainly did not "clearly state numerous times that this is only true for a small minority". Your statement was that "this behavior is common enough ...". I read it the same way Chuck Bowden did. Nowhere did you mention the care and feeding of children, so I assume your description of this COMMMON housewife does not include these tasks. And yet, it was the response to a woman who has chosen to not work OUTSIDE THE HOME while her children were young that precipitated the discussion. You didn't describe a housewife. You described a princess. Moira Mallison tektronix!moiram Q: what does a princess make for dinner? A: reservations