Thursday, September 6, 2007

My, My, My... How Times Have Changed!

A friend forwarded the following to me today in an email. This is supposedly an actual Good Housekeeping article from 1955, although I haven't thoroughly checked it out.

I submit this for your perusal, to make of it what you will. Some of it, I actually agree with. Any married person (regardless of gender) should make an effort for the one they love. I'm old-fashioned enough to believe that a little more effort would equal a lot less divorce. Then again, some of it makes me vomit in my mouth a little, too. The "staying out all night" thing takes the cake. You'll see...

Opinions, anyone?


The text reads:

"The good wife’s guide

Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready, on time for his return. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal (especially his favourite dish) is part of the warm welcome needed.

Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you’ll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people.

Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him. His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.

Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives.

Gather up schoolbooks, toys paper, etc. and then run a dishcloth over the tables.

Over the cooler months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order and it will give you a lift too. After all, catering for his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.

Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children’s hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair and, if necessary, change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part. Minimise all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer, or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet.

Be happy to see him.

Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.

Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first- remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.

Make the evening his. Never complain if he comes home late or goes out to dinner, or other places of entertainment without you. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his very real need to be at home and relax.

Your goal: Try to make sure your home is a place of peace, order and tranquility where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.

Don’t greet him with complaints and problems.

Don’t complain if he’s late home for dinner, or even if he stays out all night. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through that day.

Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or have him lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him.

Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.

Don’t ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him.

A good wife always knows her place."

Okay, Quick show of hands... Who's glad it's not 1955?

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

WOW! It is a good thing that I was born when I was. I don't think I could have survived.

Anonymous said...

Obviously written by a man who had a really stressful job, and a "Stepford Wife"!!!! Although some of it don't sound half bad, and the divorce rate was ALOT lower in '55, but who can guess what triggered womens lib?