Housewife or stay at home mothering is unpaid work, get a job - Part I







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I was chuffed when the first day in class, we were asked to introduce ourselves.

The majority of the group were women and what was pleasing to here after

mentioning their name was "I'm a full-time mom". Not a single man did say I'm a

full time dad." Most probably, its because women are seen as the best carers,

fosters, and child raisers. There is no doubt some mothers are just mere

child-bearers just like some fathers permit me to use the word irresponsible. I

asked myself afterwards, how many fellow African women could boldly mention they

are full-time moms, in their introduction in gatherings? I do have much respect

for those mates of mine. Why? The reason is they are full-time moms yet they are

taking steps to get a job. There is a difference between work and job. Ask every

housewife or those stay at home moms and they will tell you the kind of work

they do. Just a summary - each one of these housewife or stay at home mom is a

nanny, teacher, cook, cleaner, counselor, nurse, security officer, waitress,

handy-woman and a carer who works most hours in a day. Bravo on their hard work!

But is that self-sufficient? The answer may be yes to the one that chooses to be

a house-wife or stay at home mom or the man who wants to have absolute power

over her, and a 'no' to the one that seeks gender equality.



The fact is women were not made to stay at home alone. Don't get me wrong, there

is nothing wrong giving birth and choosing to raise them by stopping your job as

indeed raising children is a work. One may ask, what is more adorable than

spending time with kids, your spouse, or friends? Nevertheless, it's not a

career or job. No mother get paid at the end of the day or week or month for

being a mother. I know in some developed countries women or single parents get

benefits from the government but as far as I know in my developing country,

bringing up a child is one's soul responsibility and nothing comes through the

bank or assembly offices to be handed out for free. Coming back on track, I am

informing my fellow women who have got vocation, some skills, education or some

form of profession not being practiced to get a job. You could get a job that

can be worked from home if staying at home is the only choice you want to go

for.



House-wife or full-time mom is not a job, it is rather a work. A multifaceted

work, no one gets paid for in financial terms. May be rewarding, if you set

yourself as a role model. In some way, I see it as immaturity as you depend on a

man to provide food, clothes and shelter for you or the family. Or probably the

tax-payer to get some allowance to support you if living in a western world.

Well, what can I say, children depend on us and at a certain point, parents

expect them to grow-up and leave the nest. So while thinking its all about being

a great mom by staying at home, it isn't. It's a part of life every woman can

choose to have if they decide to.



It is a man's world, though without women, they would be nothing. From the

national statistics, Ghanaian women are still behind in most aspects such as

entrepreneurship. According to the national statistics, "...65% of men spend

from 0 to 10hours per week on domestic activities, 89% of women spend 10 hours

per week or more. The most time-engaging activities for women are cooking and

taking care of household member." Perhaps, getting a paid work which is called a

'job' aside full-time mom or stay at home mom will help bridge some of the huge

gap in regards to gender inequality. Choosing to stay at home or just be a mom

may or may not benefit you or your child when he/she grows to see that.I

remember when my mom used to grow most of our food stuffs, we all helped. She

sold some of her groceries and crops. Yet she was teaching other children

between 7:30pm and 2:00pm at school. Although she never used her 'butterfly'

sewing machine to sew clothes for sale, most of her children's torn items were

mended by herself. There are several great women like her who works around the

clock to make the world a better place to live in.



I may sound a bit harsh but I think it is not only a man's job to get money for

the home. Money is power. It may be the root of all evils, but can one sustain

himself or herself without it? If you give the power to him, by signing the

certificate "he is the bread winner" to get out there and you stay at home,

remember you may work harder without pay and will have to subject to all his

power. For those who are loving and caring, your hard-work at home will be

idolised. This is just part 1.



By Afia Nyarko

Contact: afianyarko@ghanaianfeministsforum.com

www.ghanaianfeministsforum.com

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