Desperate housewives or happy mums?

Abstract

"The woman who strengthens her body and exercises her mind will, by managing her family and practising various virtues, become the friend, and not the humble dependent of her husband"(Wollstonecratt, 1995,p.99). The image of the happy housewife is that of a woman who provides sympathy and support for her breadwinner husband, and creatively brings up her children in a loving home environment. The purpose of this long essay is to identify whether Maltese women are satisfied as full time housewives and whether it was their choice to stay out of the workforce. The literature review spanned the period from the pre-industrial era to the present time concluding with the current situation among Maltese housewives. The results show how the housewife was always the pillar of the family and the prime carer. The quantitative research method was used in the form of a questionnaire. The research clearly highlights that the majority of Maltese women feel fulfilled with their choice as full time housewives. Other findings include the belief that the stereotype of a married woman stopping from work is no longer valid. With more childcare facilities nowadays women can make their own decisions whether to balance a carrier-family lifestyle or settle as a full time housewife. Nearly all the queries in the questionnaire were discussed and complemented with chai1s accordingly. The last part of this essay concludes with the summary of the findings and recommendations for future studies.