Homemakers: ever feel like you were born in the wrong century? As being a homemaker in the 21st century has its advantages, it also comes with its own unique set of challenges.
Being a homemaker in the 21st century is definitely viewed differently than it was in centuries past. Society’s priorities have shifted a lot in the last 20 years, and we may not get the amount of recognition that we deserve. As a young homemaker in the 21st century, I am going to provide my view on homemaking in the 21st century, and the various challenges and stereotypes we may face. I will also discuss the perks of being a homemaker in the 21st century.
When I was first finding my way as a homemaker, I was searching for validation and for people who had similar thoughts to mine. I hope to provide this to other young homemakers, and provide a positive restructuring of the way homemakers are perceived.
This post is all about being a homemaker in the 21st century.
Being A Homemaker In The 21st Century
My Thoughts, Experiences, & Position In Life
Homemaking is a beautiful form of art that has stood the test of time. As it has undoubtedly evolved throughout the decades, the heart of homemaking still holds true. Homemaking has always been rooted in providing love and care to your home and to those within. As the core of homemaking may not have drastically changed, the opinions and views of others toward homemaking surley has.
Before I begin, I would like to note that I am a young, child-free homemaker, and my opinions and experiences may differ from those with children. Homemakers who have children have many more responsibilities than I do, and may not relate to my thoughts and feelings as much as someone who does not have children. Regardless, we all have our own set of priorities and responsibilities, and at the end of the day, we are all here to provide love and support in our households.
Homemaking Stereotypes
Whether you have children or not, I know we have all faced some sort of judgment about our choice to become a homemaker. Below, I will acknowledge the biggest stereotypes I have heard, and will explain why I think these opinions surrounding homemakers seem flawed.
So… don’t you get BORED?
Yep. I’ve heard this one, and I know I’m not the only homemaker who has. As homemakers, our job is within our home. However, this DOES NOT mean that we don’t work. Homemaking is hard work, and requires a certain level of unwavering commitment to our duties. Before I was a homemaker, I worked full-time. Just as I had responsibilities and duties at my job, I also have responsibilities and duties as a homemaker. As the two experiences are completely different, each had their own set of expectations and roles.
As homemakers, we always have stuff on our to-do list. Personally, I rarely get bored! If you wonder what I do all day, read my post, The Homemaker’s Role. From cooking dinner to caring for our home, my days are full. In this day and age, it seems like a lot of people are discontent staying home. Whether that be on the weekends or on their days off, they seem to always need plans and somewhere to be.
I think this discontentment leads them to believe that homemakers MUST be bored at home all day. In reality, most homemakers are homebodies, and are perfectly content staying home and not going out into the world every day. At least I am! Everyone is different, and everyone craves different levels of socialization and activity. Just because one person craves a high amount of this does not mean that everyone else does as well.
The other part of this has to do with our homes. When we get to focus fully on our home environment and on homemaking tasks, we are able to perform a wider variety of more in-depth tasks. People who work full-time outside of their homes may not have the chance to do this, and therefore may not understand the depth of care we put into our homes, and just how much time and work it takes. It seems like there is always something to get done, from small tasks to big projects.
Are you looking for a job?
Since I am only 24 and am a homemaker, I get this question a lot. I know it has no malicious intent behind it; it is a natural step for a 24-year-old who recently graduated from college. Being in a time of boss babes, girl bosses, and power women, it is sometimes hard to say “I stay home.” People expect it to be temporary, and expect for me to be searching for employment. As I understand that, I also think it is ok to take a different path.
Everyone has different experiences, and mine have led to where I am now. I dated my now husband for 7 years, and we got married at a young age. Our life naturally transitioned into what it is now, and as it wasn’t planned, it works for us. Different things work for different people, and I think if everyone could remember that, we would all understand each other a little better.
Another thing I’ve heard is “what are you working toward now?” As I have always been working toward something in my life (college, graduating, full-time job), it is sometimes hard for me to say that I am currently just enjoying staying home and taking care of things on that front. But, reality is, it is ok to not be working toward something specific, and I’ve learned to make peace with this. Caring for my home full-time IS working toward something, and I’ve become comfortable with telling people that I am “happy caring for our little home and taking care of my husband.” It works for us, and most importantly, we’re happy. It is ok to say that you are not looking for a job. People may be a little surprised, but it’ll fade with time.
What do you do all day?
Society undeniably prioritizes being as busy as you can possibly be. Nine times out of ten, when you ask someone how they are, part of their response will include the word “busy.” Busy with my job, busy with my kids, busy with my side-hustle, busy with my business, busy with busy-ness. It seems like if you’re not doing something every second of every day, people put you in a category below themselves. It is so common for people to be pulled in 14 different directions, that it is now expected. And if you’re not, people are usually a little taken aback by this information.
People like for others to see them as part of this new “hustle culture,” and care about the way people think they spend their time. As homemakers, we have to be ok with some people thinking we “aren’t busy.” We know our duties, schedules, and responsibilities, and that’s all that really matters! It’s completely ok to not have every second of every day filled with something to do; that’s part of the beauty of being a homemaker!
Perks Of Homemaking In The 21st Century
As there may be different stereotypes surrounding homemakers in the 21st century, there are also new perks that help to keep homemakers more connected to their community of fellow homemakers.
Connectivity
One advantage of being a homemaker in the 21st century is the opportunity to use social media and other online platforms to build a community of like-minded people. With the internet, it is now easier than ever to find podcasts, blogs, vlogs, and social media channels that are run by people who view life similarly to you. Being a homemaker without children means that I am not out and about as much as those who have children. This makes it a little more difficult for me to find people with similar interests to mine. However, with the rise of people sharing their own lives and experiences online, it has become so easy for me to find other homemakers who have the same priorities as I do.
From YouTube, to Instagram, to Pinterest to Facebook, there are so many homemakers out there who are sharing their daily lives, routines, and responsibilities. This makes it so much easier to connect to others, and to see that there are other people in the world leading a similar life as you. Sometimes, staying home can feel isolating for homemakers. But, being able to reach out and connect to people within the homemaking community and draw inspiration and encouragement from them is a wonderful thing provided by the 21st century.
Information
Unfortunately, there’s no comprehensive guide for how to be a great homemaker. Instead, it comes from trial and error, and from time and experience. There are a lot of skills homemakers need to learn, and we can’t possibly know how to do these from the start. Being in the 21st century, there are SO MANY different resources readily available to us. The amount of information that is easy and free to access is astonishing, and helps homemakers learn new ways to do things, learn new skills, and build upon already existing ones. There are now homemaking classes, homemaking blogs, homemaking vlogs, homemaking Pinterest accounts, and other homemaking websites that allow homemakers of any level to immerse themselves deeper into this form of art. From researching new recipes to how to hem clothing, getting new information has never been so convenient.
Homemaking has changed so much in the last 30 years, and sometimes I don’t realize how lucky I am to have these resources available to me. When I first started staying home, I began collecting recipes from Pinterest and from blogs. I mentioned this to my mom one day, and she told me how when she was first married (in the 90s), she had to either purchase a physical cookbook to get recipes, or get them from a friend/family member. It is incredible how much has changed in 30 years, and how much simpler it is now for homemakers to gather the information they need! It is a huge perk of homemaking in the 21st century, and provides homemakers with the confidence of being able to learn skills or gain knowledge that they don’t currently have.
Acceptance
I know the stereotypes listed above seem to negate this, but all in all, there is more acceptance generally within the world than there was a couple of decades ago. This includes views on homemaking. There seems to be a whole movement of people who are choosing to become homemakers and homesteaders. With the use of social media, these people are creating content that shares their views, and that helps others understand their way of life. When people see the nitty gritty details and hard work of homemaking, they tend to be more accepting of the role and give it the respect it deserves.
When people are able to actually SEE what homemakers do and what their daily life looks like, it gives them a more in-depth understanding, and a more vibrant picture of homemaking and all that it entails. The truth is, no one ever really fully understands someone else’s job, role, and responsibilities unless they do it themselves. But, with the rise in sharing the homemaking lifestyle on social media platforms, it takes people one step closer to understanding the role we take on and all the unseen responsibilities we perform.
People who are sharing their homemaking lifestyle and their perspective on the subject really are paving an easier road for the next generation of homemakers, and are shedding light on the beauty, hardships, and everything inbetween concerning homemaking.
The Take Away
With this, being a homemaker in the 21st century poses new challenges, but it also provides new opportunities and advantages. The continuous sharing of homemaking on social media is not only providing new perspectives, but newfound respect for homemakers. As some people may have certain negative thoughts about homemakers, we need to remember that our job is no less important than theirs, and to take their opinions with both grace and a grain of salt. Homemakers know in their hearts what homemaking means to them, and it is beautiful work that has countless benefits.
No matter what stage of homemaking you are in, finding people who you can relate to will remind you that there are others in this world who look through the same set of glasses as you. As time goes on, homemaking will further evolve, and so will the opinions surrounding it. Stay true to your heart, don’t let the judgment of others get in your head, and enjoy the privilege of being a homemaker.