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not my personal beliefs just thought this was curious as in the way things have changed so much through time
50's & 60's Wives
Here is an actual extract from a Home Economics textbook printed in the early 60's.
When retiring to the bedroom prepare yourself for bed as promptly as possible. Whilst feminine hygiene is of the utmost importance your tired husband does not want to queue for the bathroom as he would have to do for his train.
But remember to look your best when going to bed. Try to achieve a look that is welcoming without being obvious. If you need to apply face-cream or hair-rollers wait until he is asleep as this can be shocking to a man last thing at night. When it comes to the possibility of intimate relations with your husband it is important to remember your marriage vows and in particular your commitment to obey him. If he feels that he needs to sleep immediately then so be it. In all things be lead by your husband's wishes, do not pressure him in any way to stimulate intimacy. Should your husband suggest congress then accede humbly all the while being mindful that a man's satisfaction is more important than a woman's. When he reaches his moment of fulfilment a small moan from yourself is encouraging to him and quite sufficient to indicate any enjoyment that you may have had. Should your husband suggest any of the more unusual practices be obedient and uncomplaining but register any reluctance by remaining silent. It is likely that your husband will then fall promptly asleep so adjust your clothing, freshen up and apply your night time face and hair care products. You may then set the alarm so that you can arise shortly before him in the morning. This will enable you to have his morning cup of tea ready when he awakes.
Meanwhile, back in the Fifties . . .
Housekeeping Monthly 13 May 1955
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 dustcloth 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 tranquillity 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 judgement 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.
not my personal beliefs just thought this was curious as in the way things have changed so much through time
Most men would agree.Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him.
ha ha ha ha ha ha
I got a book published in the 60s from a garage sale last year that detailed how married couples could e up their sex lives - and it was filled with quotes from men saying, "Wow - women can have orgasms, too?" - and more sadly, women saying the same thing. I'd have to say though, that the most disturbing part of the book entailed "you should dress up in costumes for your husband - get your kids involved in planning that week's costume!"
ha ha h aha ha ha the swinging 60's were crazy
I'm perfectly willing to have dinner ready for him some of the time. But I was nice enough to marry him, so I expect dinner to be waiting for me every once in a while.
i cant begin to understand how such things could happen
Its like back then every man just used women as dolls, had no real wish to please or to love
sickening
If family isn't good enough for you, then who is?
Although, my male pig side is telling me if someone gave me a 60's wife, i would gladly take one.
But then again....after spending a few weeks with a submissive woman she'd start to act like me and take on some of my habits
then she'd be a lazy ass foul mouth
nevermind
There's a closet domestic side of me that comes out every once in a while (closer to Anne Sexton than Donna Reed, though) - but I'm happy to put her away after she's cleaned the apartment and made a pie.
who are they? Jekka are you really into feminism?
My gf has a Obsessive Compulsive domestic side that is tucked away but once given a little leeway she can go on cleaning for hours until i jerk the vacuum cord out of the wall and say "stop this "
Those articles are f-ing hilarious! I think I'll tell my hard working doctor wife that, although at times she attends patients until 9:00 PM, I still will not want to queue (sp) for the master bathroom as if I'm awaiting the train. I wonder if I'll survive!
and yet this hard working housewife described by Housekeeping monthly is not herself tired, exhausted and looking for a bit of respite at eh end of the day???
whoo-hoo!Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him
obiwan you're pregnant now? i thought u already had your kid
ohhh no wonder all the preggo talk...
You get your ass back in the kitchen and make me some pie!
Donna Reed was a scary lady on TV in the 50s and 60s who was the ideal housewife and always happy to be cooped up in the house with her new blender. Anne Sexton was a housewife who went insane in the 50s and 60s and wrote poetry on the advice of her shrink - her stuff is pretty amazing, and she was an unintentional forerunner of feminism at the time. She ended up killing herself, though, after publishing several volumes of her work.
And yes, I am into feminism, just not femi-nazi-ism. I get frustrated with men a lot, but I'm not a man-hater. I don't see how hating half the population makes you any stronger, which is the point of feminism.
Sexton sounds interesting, except the suicide part.
Are you a feminist that refuses to dress up and wear nice things (whatever you consider that) or does that fall under femi-nazi-ism too
Man if i ever got into a relationship where i started an argument and my girl doesnt argue back, i think i would just slowly back out of where ever i was and would never be heard from or seen again.
I would like to comment on this but sometimes things are best left unsaid.
I don't know if I should laugh, or be sad about that article! LOL I mean, its incredible to think how society treated women back then.
It doesn't matter! Didn't you read it?! He's more important than you by far!
Actually, I try to do a lot of that kind of stuff anyway, outdated thought it is. Maybe that's why we have such a solid marriage in a time when divorces run rampant. When I make him happy, he tries to make me happy, and everybody gets a lot of what they want.
Those were the days!
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