Homemaking is such a taboo and counter-cultural lifestyle choice these days. Let us bust these top 10 myths about homemaking!
These myths about homemaking are stereotypical misunderstandings of modern homemaking. It’s helpful to equip yourself with the misconceptions and assumptions people might have about you when you say you are a homemaker.
I initially included it in my Homemaking 101 Guide. If you want to dive deeper into the concept of homemaking, I recommend checking it out.
Common Myths about Homemaking
Myth #1: Homemakers mooch off of their husbands or family.
Rather than burdening the family, the value a good homemaker provides for her household is priceless. It is a privilege to have a clean, welcoming, well-managed, loving place to come home every day. A well-made home is a blessing to those who live there. It’s an honor the be the one to create that environment for your loved ones.
Myth #2: Homemakers are wasting their potential.
We live In a society that values selfishness, materialism, & status. Of course, society views waisted potential as opting out of society’s rat race. Why is a woman considered more valuable when she serves strangers, her boss, and a career over her family, passions, and home?
Some women may feel they are meeting their potential in a career, while others find fulfillment at home. Both can exist in different seasons of life as well. You have permission to be a multi-passionate, talented, intelligent, creative & resourceful woman no matter the situation.
You are much more than your education, career, income, or social status. What we are to the world does not define our inherent potential. Our actual value is in who we are at our core and how we love others.
Myth #3: Homemakers are lazy or bored.
Generally speaking, if someone takes on the responsibility of a homemaker, being lazy is the furthest from the goal. Homemaking is a 24/7, lifetime commitment. Most homemakers can do more work in one day than the average 9-5 employee.
Not to say there aren’t homemakers who struggle with laziness & distractions, but they are ordinary people with everyday problems too.
If you battle with laziness, it stems from a lack of purpose, passion, or discipline. You can beat laziness by learning how to develop good habits.
There is never a dull moment as a homemaker. There are always things to do, improve, & prepare!
Myth #4: Homemaking is easy
Most things worth doing aren’t easy. If you want to do good work that is fulfilling, it needs to have a degree of challenge, and you get to choose what hard things are worth doing.
As a homemaker, there have been times I’ve asked myself,
“Would my life be easier in the world if I had a regular job, consistent income, and modern material possessions? Yes, but I’m not here to live for the world & I am not guaranteed an easy life.”
-The Hill COuntry Honey
Regularly doing mundane tasks, putting others’ needs before your wants, developing discipline, living counter-cultural, & pursuing truth and freedom in today’s society is not easy and is gradually getting harder.
Like anything else worth doing, homemaking comes with challenges and is not easy.
Myth #5: Homemakers Oppressed by Their Husbands
Most women who choose to be homemakers have the free will to do especially living in the modern age and western society. To believe otherwise is to disregard a woman’s intelligence, freedom, and equality to make decisions for her own life. Many modern husbands support their wives in the mutual decision for a wife to be a homemaker.
In history, in other cultures, and domestic abuse situations, women have been forced into these roles. We can all agree that forcing anyone into this role is not okay. Healthy love involves free will.
Myth #6: Homemaking isn’t Essential.
“The homemaker has the ultimate career. All other careers exist for one purpose only - and that is to support the ultimate career. ”
-C.S. Lewis
The quality of our homes is the foundation for our families on which our whole society functions. Everyone has a family, everyone needs a home, and the world needs homemakers to make the world a better place from the inside out.
Myth #7: Only wives & Mothers Can Be Homemakers
Your particular phase of life or relationship status does not define you as a homemaker. A homemaker can also be a stay-at-home mom or housewife but is not limited to those seasons. You are a homemaker before and after raising children if your home & family is your top priority.
Myth #8: Homemaking is religious
Most homemaking resources stem from a biblical or religious practice, but that’s not always the case. Many Christians, myself included, find a deep passion rooted in our faith for whatever work He calls us to do. I need to note here for my Christian sisters not to make homemaking an idol.
The simple acts of homemaking are of no spiritual value more than working any other job. I would argue it’s more fulfilling with a spiritual connection for anything we do. Everyone is welcome to serve their household and family through homemaking regardless of religious beliefs or lack thereof.
Myth #9: Homemakers are selfish.
A selfish homemaker will not last very long. To sustain this lifestyle, you must be willing to put others’ needs before your wants. If that’s not something you find yourself being able to do right now, it is a skill you can learn to be more selfless through character development & intention.
Myth #10: All Homemakers want to live like it’s the 1950’s.
The homemaking community idolizes the 1950s as a form of escapism from the modern challenges we face. There’s nothing wrong with being inspired by history, but it’s essential not to idolize it.
The 1950s weren’t any more flawed than the world we live in today. I’m so thankful to live in this day and age over any other in history. There is a reason we are here to be homemakers in a time such as this.
Don’t Let These Myths About Homemaking Discourage You!
If you are a homemaker, you are choosing a humble, honorable lifestyle to serve your loved ones and community in a way the modern world might not understand. I encourage you to continuously build your character & don’t let others’ opinions shake you from living into the woman you are called to be as a homemaker.
