My mom just emailed an article to me from Housekeeping Monthly, circa 1955, titled The Good Wife's Guide. I'm sure many of you have read it before, as I have, but it always gives me a good laugh! Glad times have changed since the 50's...don't get me wrong, I love taking care of my husband and enjoy making him happy - just not in a crazy "June Cleaver" kind of way! My favorite is "arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing-pleasant voice." Enjoy reading! (You may want to click on each page to enlarge for easier reading).
THE COPYWRIGHT OF IMAGE OF THE GOOD HOUSEWIFE GUIDE IS OWNED BY
Ahm. Excuse me while I try to hoist my jaw back up from my chest. Some of these pieces of advise are quite shocking, actually. I hope the women of the 50's didn't take this seriously?!?
ReplyDeleteThank god for emancipation!
ReplyDelete'You have no right to question him.'
I bet my boyfriend sometimes wishes that was true ;)
ditto on that carrie with my husband!
ReplyDeleteIs it okay to start a fire for him if there is no fireplace? I was thinking of a "Burning Bed" scenario.
ReplyDeleteThose magnets are Highlarious!
ReplyDeleteeeek, Woman must of lost their marbles having to abide by all this stuff.
Positively gag-inducing!!!
ReplyDeleteSomebody needs to write a "Good Husband's Guide" for the 21st century!! :-)
Kelly @ DesignTies
Haha I like the above comment! Good Husbands Guide! I am glad that now in the 21st century we can make fun of this! It is so unrealistic. You are lucky if I make you a decent meal. And even Luckier if I am wearing make up!
ReplyDeleteLook at how far we've come!
ReplyDeleteHaving watched the first episode of Mad Men last night, I can just picture a group of [male] copy writers dictating this fantasy to the secretary, enjoying a scotch and laughing their heads off. It's a fantasy - I can't imagine many women in the fifties paid much attention to this, especially after seeing Margaret Foulton interviewed! Sadly though, some would have.
ReplyDeleteThis is hysterical! My friend has coasters with these types of images on them and they always crack me up.
ReplyDeleteI read this several years ago and it made me sad then. It reminds me of women so trapped into being. All the souls of women born into times in which they were not, makes me mourn for them, mourn for all of us who are too large for the space alloted to us.
ReplyDeletethe writer forgot to add that if he smacks you because he had a long day and you forgot to put onions in the meatloaf, say," sorry to disappoint you master" and take it. WHAT A JOKE! i laugh at this stuff but it is very sad that our mothers were taught this stuff and it is at the very essence of what men were brought up to think in their homes by their own mothers, then they try to pull this crap on their wives! Ha if they only knew how lucky they are to even find someone that can stand them after two years let alone serve them!
ReplyDeleteThat was the most hysterical thing I have ever read! Thanks for the laugh and reminding me how happy I am to be married today!
ReplyDeleteMy eighty year old Dad now helps my Mother cook meals, cleans the bathroom, sweeps the floors and does many things to help around their home. That being said, when I was growing up my Mother waited on him hand and foot. She was expected to help with farming chores and make a lovely meal. I suspect she was one who read and believed that article.
ReplyDeleteThe amazing part is that my sisters and I have husbands that have never seen wives anything like the 50’s housewife.
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ReplyDelete@Rebecca, hi to have been married is exactly the nice and wonderful day of life. You must be happy.
ReplyDeleteWOW. just... wow.
ReplyDelete