"The Good Wife's Guide" - my, how things have changed

[parallelzero]

Humorously, this little ditty was sent around to the teachers at my school today. "The Good Wife's Guide" pretty much shows how crappy women had it before the Women's rights movement came into full swing. As the wiki article starts, the article could be a hoax, yet this is how things probably really were. It just shows how things have come such a long way in such a short time. Anyways, here's what the article 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 on last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives.
• Gather up schoolbooks, toys, paper etc and then run a dust cloth 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.

Discuss it as you will. Laugh at it, criticize it, discuss how Women's right have progressed. But anyone who is even slightly offended: remember, this was all a long time ago. To us now, it's just funny. Also, I don't want this turning into a Women's right debate, so keep in mind it's all in pure fun.

 

[Fox♠]

Yeah most of it is pretty disgusting.

Although the good meal bit is right, the prospect of a hearty meal always rises my spirits during a hard day of work!
But it should work both ways, i remember I used to (read: try and end with haphazard results) make dinner for my ex when she'd come round after she'd being at work all day.

I think they should re-write a unisex guide to being a good partner.

 

[Percy Thrillington]

I reckon that guide was treated like the bible back then.

 

[Aurafire]

Heh, I remember reading this. Kinda shocking how much subordination women had to deal with back then O_O

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

This one made me laugh. Imagine someone saying that nowadays: "Honey, take off my shoes please" XD

 

[I Laugh at your Misfortune!]

I don't get it. What's the problem?

 

[BHwolfgang]

I like to see a mom restrain her kids to be quiet and greet their father at the door. He'll probably just ignore them all and go to his meal.

This guide was probably an unwritten code on what women had to go by back in those days. It's pretty hilarious, but the bad taste is still there.

However, I would love it if my girlfriend would somehow enters my house before I do and make me a warm meal. That would be oh so sweet of her. XD

 

[processr]

All this does is remind me of this sketch from Harry Enfield and Chums. xD;

 

[Netto Azure]

The sad thing is. This exact same scan is in our Refrigerator. (It's been there ever since I went here in the US 4 years ago)

The ironic thing is...my Mom isn't like that at all. O_o

But yes Civil Rights and societal norms are certainly radical compared to the 1950's "American Dream" :P

 

[Dawson]

It's quite clearly supposed to be just a tongue-in-cheek sexist joke. I've seen a few variations of that kind of thing in the past, including a "Good Husband" version.

Obviously, a couple of points seem valid enough, ie having dinner ready for when he gets back. But a couple of them are ridiculous enough to prove it's a prank.

 

[viridian doubletongue]

a good housewife may do all of these things, there's nothing wrong with that.

of course the relationship would not be broken if even none of these things were done.

 

[Virtual Chatot]

You guys have to understand, wives who actually love their families and husbands will do these things out of love, but not out of some stereotypical view of how wives should be. Some of them I wouldn't necessarily consider "rules", but they would at least show your husband how much you love him.

a good housewife may do all of these things, there's nothing wrong with that.

Agreed

 

[Legobricks]

Most of that is what maids are for.

 

[Richard Wagner]

And to think, some people prefer the 50's to the current times *cough*afternoon talk radio*cough*

 

[Gummy]

My mom is very much like that, and my dad is always telling me to marry a woman like my mom O_O

A good wife always knows her place.

Lol xD

 

[doesn't matter]

So where can I get me one of these women? I'm tired of taking my own shoes off!

 

[.inLOVE]

I can't believe the crap girls like myself had to do.

Although, it's actually a little funny how much things have changed.

 

[Guillermo]

This is hilarious, yet pathetic.

"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."

^lolwat.

 

[Fox♠]

So where can I get me one of these women? I'm tired of taking my own shoes off!

You have my number bby ;]

 

[Aliandro Operator]

Um...
Question...
Women rights?
Don't get me the wrong way, of course I DO believe in em, but what does this have to do with that?

I mean, most of what I read makes sense when in terms of psychological differences between men and women. As a man, I do NOT want to come home to a place after a hard day and have complaints bashed into my face. What I would do is ask my wife to just hold on a bit longer so I can ease off and then I would be HAPPY to listen to whatever she has to say.

The main part I disagree with is this: "Let him talk first – remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours." Now thats utter BS. I don't believe in none of that.

But here is what I do believe in: A man should also treat his wife the same way. Put in as much effort as she does. Otherwise it wouldn't really be an equal relationship.

Somethings here and there are a bit too much and I agree. But DAMN if it doesn't make a guy feel loved and cared for. <<; That doesn't mean he shouldn't do the same. Quite the opposite. He should do the same and more even!

Oh, and yea. A good wife does know her place. But don't take that as derogatory. On the quite opposite. If my wife does whats she's supposed to do and I do the same, then damn if thats not the "Earthly Heaven".
Also, a good husband also knows his place and duties. So that doesn't mean a woman has to bow down to her husband and all of that crap. No, I believe in a respectful, caring and giving relationship.

Besides, all of that (as far as I know) was before women went out to work. So it does to a certain extent kinda make sense. Know what am saying? But keep in mind the exceptions I pointed out. Somethings are just way outta line and I disagree with em.
But when you think about a guy who just came home from a hard day of menial labor from 9 to 5, I am pretty sure he would appreciate the hell out of everything his wife does for him to make him feel comfortable and at ease.

Whatcha all think?



The Operator.

 

[Captain Fabio]

AHAHAHAHAHAHA!

That made me chuckle.

I am just thinking, what would happen if a husband expected this from his wife.
He wouldn't be a husband for long, is my first thought! XD