TresSugar

How Much Are You Worth?

DearSugar — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 09:00:00 -0800

Putting a price on things seems to be a theme this week. Yesterday I asked you how much you'd pay for an orgasm and today we're talking about the monetary worth of a housewife. As we all know, staying home and running the household is a full-time job and researches in the UK have estimated that the position of a housewife is valued at £30,000 ($60,000) a year.
According to the Daily Mail,

They broke down the costs according to the average wages paid to professionals for tasks such as getting children dressed and ready for school, feeding them, helping with homework, and getting them ready for bed.

Clearly all that work is no small feat, so ladies, if you're a stay-at-home mom and if you could name a price for your full-time job, what would you want your paycheck to look like?

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What's Your Take on "Housewife Classes"?

DearSugar — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 08:00:00 -0700

I just read an article in the LA Times that struck a nerve with me, and I have a feeling you will all agree. This Fall, the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary will be offering a class on how to be a better housewife - a class only open to women, of course! This academic program will offer lectures on laundering stubborn stains and how to bake chocolate-chip cookies.

While some women feel it's their duty to be a homemaker, such classes went out of style at most secular colleges a half century ago, which could be why only eight out of the 300 students in the undergraduate program have enrolled in this class. On the flip side, it's comforting to know that some men out there are speaking up, suggesting that it's actually the men that need these classes. As Andy Cecrle stated, "What if my wife is sick and my kids need clean clothes? It may not hurt to have some basic tips." Amen Andy!

I am sure you ladies have a mouthful to say in response to all of this, so what's your take on housewife classes? If you were offered these classes in school, would you take them or would you be offended? And if you could make a class such as this mandatory for men, do you think they would benefit from it?

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You Asked: My Husband Expects me to be a Housewife!!

DearSugar — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 17:00:00 -0700

Dear Sugar--

I am recently married to a wonderful and extremely loving man. We have been together for almost 6 years and he is my prince charming. On our honeymoon, he dropped a total bombshell on me -- he wants me to quit my job and be a housewife!!!

Now, I understand that many women enjoy being housewives and I have the utmost respect for them, but being a housewife is just not for me. I recently landed an amazing job at a very prestigious law firm and feel like I didn't bust my *ss in school for the past 7 years for nothing. Before we got married he was happy that I wanted to keep my job and now he is all of a sudden adamant that I quit. I don't know what to do, I love my husband and he is being incredibly generous by offering to be the sole provider, but being a housewife simply won't be enough for me. HELP! -- Unstimulated Sonia

To see DEARSUGAR's answer read more

Dear Unstimulated Sonia --

Yikes, it sounds like you and your new hubby have a serious conflict of interests here. I can completely understand why you don't want to give up on a career you have clearly worked very hard to achieve and I quite frankly feel you shouldn't have to. What is sparking your husband's sudden change of heart? Have you told him how important keeping your job is to you? Have you expressed your disinterest in being a housewife?

It sounds like your husband has an idea of what marriage is "supposed to be," perhaps he grew up in a household where his mother stayed home while his father brought home the bacon, but that lifestyle isn't for everyone and he needs to understand that. If you are forced to stay home, chances are you're going to end up resenting him, which is bound to cause serious problems in your relationship. Marriage is all about give and take, so while your husband might have an ideal of how he wants your life to be, you need to do what makes you happy. Starting a new life with your husband takes some work, and there will be highs and lows, but I suggest you sit him down ASAP, let him know how you feel, and demand that you come up with some sort of a compromise. I wish you luck Sonia, and congrats on your wedding!

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Mad Men: Does Kitty Realize Her Husband Sal Is Gay?

TresSugar — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:00:00 -0700

If you watch Mad Men, you know Sterling Cooper's art director, Salvatore Romano, is gay. Whether or not he knows remains unclear, but that near-tryst with the bell boy should have helped clarify! Meanwhile his wife, Kitty, lives in semi-blissful ignorance - at least until Sunday's episode.

To prove his lackluster libido is really the side effect of work stress, Sal imitates the commercial he's shooting the next day. It features a blond beauty who sings and swings across the screen like a teenager. Big mistake! His wrists go limp, like they've been tied in cuff links too long (they have), and his pajamas become a makeshift dress. He fans the collar while running back and forth with schoolgirl hurry. The scene is long and painful, but not as excruciating as the wide-eyed Kitty as her face goes from uneasy intrigue to queasy realization.

But what does she realize? I doubt a 1960s housewife could spot and articulate homosexuality. Yet between the camera lingering on her face and Mad Men's aversion to sloppiness, something meaningful is set up. Was it a moment of truth? Confusion? Or, a jolt of unfamiliarity - the seismic shakeup we've all had when a significant other shows us we have no idea who they really are?

Source: AMC

The Women Behind the (Mad) Men

TresSugar — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 11:00:06 -0700

Considering that Mad Men is everywhere these days (Vanity Fair has an extensive piece on the show this month, and I've noticed on my walks to work that Banana Republic is holding casting calls?!), I decided to break down and catch up on the series before the third season premiere Aug. 16. All I can say is that I'm quickly becoming obsessed with all things '60s fashion and doing my best to remember that cigarettes are not cool.

Now that I'm hooked on the show, I was excited to read all about the women behind the series in today's Wall Street Journal. Ironically, Mad Men's writing team is dominated by women even though, just like 1960s Madison Avenue, a female-dominant writing team is a rarity in modern Hollywood. But on Mad Men, the women writers have brought authenticity to the characters in the show's chauvinistic world, especially the female characters. In the WSJ article, the writers recount a debate they had about whether housewife Betty Draper should have a one-night stand. Although the male writers were against it, they were outnumbered by the women who thought she had to if she was going to take her cheating husband back. Sometimes two wrongs do make a right.

Have the Mad Men writers gotten you hooked yet?

Cosmo's Helen Gurley Brown: A Feminist or Her Nemesis?

TresSugar — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:00:00 -0700

It's hard to imagine calling a woman who once said "man-pleasing gets results" a feminist, but Helen Gurley Brown has had the word attached to her bra strap since Sex and the Single Girl published in 1962. In April, a biography on her, Bad Girls Go Everywhere, hit the shelves to solidify her place as a feminist icon, raising more than one eyebrow across the blogosphere.

So she doesn't have the intellectual clout of a Naomi Wolf, but what she did have - for 32 years - was the ear of the everyday woman. She described her upbringing as "hillbilly," and pedaled a populist feminism that was meant to be practiced instead of preached. It obviously resonated with American women, as Cosmopolitan outsold feminist Ms. six to one when she was editor in chief.

Brown saw nothing wrong with using looks to get ahead and believed that a woman should be free to be a CEO, housewife, or model without society's commentary. But then she'd go and say something like, "I think you may have to have a tiny touch of anorexia nervosa to maintain an ideal weight."

So who is Helen Gurley Brown? An feminist icon, or a woman who served a purpose in a place and time that are neither here nor now?

Have You Ever Ended a Relationship Because of Your Family?

TresSugar — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:00:00 -0700

If you've been watching the Real Housewives of New Jersey, you might feel bad for housewife Jacqueline. Her sister-in-law Dina is no fan of Jacqueline's friend Danielle, a seemingly harmless but lost single mom with younger boyfriends and a sordid, perhaps criminal, past. And Danielle is no fan of Dina's.

I can tell Jacqueline doesn't want to abandon her friend, who has few people she can trust, but she also doesn't want to be on her sister-in-law's bad side. On last night's episode, Jacqueline revealed her temporary solution: she's imposing a no trash-talking-my-family rule while she's in Danielle's company. Still, I think it won't be long before Jacqueline has to give up her friendship with Danielle if she doesn't want to risk a riff in the family.

Have you ever had to implement the blood-is-thicker-than-water rule and end a relationship - romantic or platonic - because of your family's objections?

Photos courtesy of Bravo

Link Time!

DearSugar — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 11:00:00 -0800

Are you an Internet snoop? - The Frisky
Which Desperate Housewife is living your love life? - Tango
After a breakup, there's a lot left behind - Lemondrop
Do you know what city is considered the kissing capital? - Jezebel
How do you like to be asked out? - Divine Caroline
When was the last time you had a great first date? - Truehookupconfessions.com
Do you have baby fever? - Glamour

You Asked: My Husband Wants Me to Be a Stay-at-Home Wife!

DearSugar — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 06:00:00 -0700

Dear Sugar,

I just got married to the man of my dreams (YAY!!), but now that the wedding high has worn off, settling into married life has been different than I expected. Both my husband and I are very career oriented but all of a sudden, now that I have a ring on my finger, he wants me to be a stay-at-home wife, just like his mother! We talked about our future before getting married and we were on the same page, but my husband has done a complete 180 and I don't know what to do. He says that he makes enough money to support the both of us, but I don't want to quit my job! He expects me to stay home to "run the house," but I'm not ready to be a housewife! While I don't want to knock those women that love being a stay-at-home wife/mom, it's just not what I want for myself quite yet. Do you have any advice for me? - Career Woman Wendy

To see DearSugar's answer read more.

Dear Career Woman Wendy,

Agreeing on how your lives would change after getting married really should have been discussed before saying I do, but since your husband clearly had a change of heart, a serious talk is in order. Explain to him that you had every intention of keeping things status quo, including your career. For some women, working is what keeps them motivated and empowered so while your husband's offer is very generous, you're bound to resent him if you feel held back.

I think it's natural for him to try and replicate his parents relationship, but times have changed. Being a housewife is no longer a woman's automatic role; it's now a decision. Hopefully a good talk about your future will help bring you two back to the same page, but Wendy, even if you can't come to a complete agreement, you need to do what's best for you because if you aren't happy, your relationship is bound to suffer. Good luck and congratulations!

Source

Top 10 Couple Costumes

DearSugar — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0700

Getting sexy for Halloween is fun, but getting a date and going with a theme can be really fun too. Since the plug and socket is overdone, I've come up with a few new and creative costume ideas for couples, so check them out below!

Naughty '50s Housewife and a Post Man - Go ahead and make fun of a silly stereotype!
Ball and Chain - A couple's classic, but not as popular as the plug and socket.
Hillbilly Honeymooners - All you need are a couple of beer helmets and some flip-flops.
Mario and the Princess - Everyone always does Mario and Luigi, but I never see the Princess.
Any of the couples from The Office - This is for those of you who really like to get into character!

To see the rest, just read more.

Juno and Paulie, from Juno - Perfect for quirky couples! Plus, don't you want to see your man in some short shorts?
Plumber and a Faulty Pipe - It might not be the sexiest costume, but it's kinky.
Heidi and Spencer, of The Hills - This is fun because you can have an excuse to get in every picture!
Freudian Slip - He's Freud; you wear a slip. Easy and creative.
Go as each other - My absolute favorite if you're going out with mutual friends.

Have you ever dressed up with your man? If so, what were you guys?

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