In Defense of Clean Sheets and Fresh Bread

I got up at 6:30 the other day, and within an hour of rising I had started a loaf of homemade bread, put in a load of laundry, changed the sheets on my bed, and tidied up the house.  You see, it's all part of testing my "getting back to the basics" theory.  I confess that I was feeling pretty good about myself by 7:30.

I started to imagine people coming into my home, smelling the bread and seeing the crisp linens and thinking, "wow, she's really got it together."  They would marvel at my productivity, the beauty of my home, the taste of my food.  They would want to be like me, and tell all their friends about me.  

Oh wait.  That's right.  None of this stuff is cool.  In fact, my morning was pretty lame by today's standards.  Maybe even offensive to some.  I mean, I'm a college-educated woman without children, for crying out loud!  I should be out there building my career or saving the hungry or something.  Who cares if I bake bread and have clean sheets?

Well, I suppose I care.  I'm not exactly sure why.  Lame or not, I still felt good about the morning.  Not "I've reached the pinnacle of my personal goals" good, but good nonetheless.

I bring this up because "keeping house" gets a bad rap these days.  I mean, normally when you want to accomplish your personal and professional goals, making the bed isn't the recommended place to start.  I feel a little silly even bringing it up.  But I can't shake the idea that reviving the "household arts" might actually help us modernized women reach those feminist goals we've been nurturing since grade school.

Take me for instance.  After the sheets and the bread, I went on to have a very productive "career-building" morning.  My domestic start actually gave me some focus and momentum for the rest of the day.  So far the theory seems to be true.  Only 8-12 more weeks left!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to take the bread out of the oven.

Hall of Household Arts

I was driving around my town today, close to the university campus, and I pulled up next to a stoplight just long enough to notice that one of the campus buildings had an etching I had never noticed before.  It read "Simon Guggenheim Hall of Household Arts."  Clearly a relic from bygone days, I couldn't help but smile.  You see, I was on my way to the university library to renew some books I checked out on housewives but hadn't finished reading yet.  What synergy.

My guess is that the authors of my books, all written in the last decade, would lament to see those stone-carved letters prominently displayed on a main thoroughfare.  They represent everything the women's movement passionately worked to leave behind.  Their efforts were obviously not in vain, as I believe the building now hosts business classes, not "household arts."  Whereas the first female students in those halls were most likely taught a variety of domestic skills, the females now are studying economics and management and overall asserting themselves into "man's world" of business.  And though certainly I am glad that today's female students are pursuing MBA's (click here to read a recent post on women, politics and money), I couldn't help but feel a little sad that "household arts" was no longer a part of the university's offerings.  

My sadness is entirely personal--I love domesticity.  I actually feel like a better person when my house is clean and my husband is well-fed.  Again, the authors of my books would lament.  I'm not suggesting, of course, that the university resurrect the "hall of household arts," but I might argue that we shouldn't bury them from society all together.  It is not an argument I would have a difficult time making, judging by the triumphant success of Martha Stewart, Rachel Ray, and the brains behind "Real Simple."  So, domesticity is still alive and well, just not on college campuses.

For other posts from me today, check out:

--my thoughts on the role of blogsphere in international politics (and why bashing your ex on YouTube probably isn't the brightest thing to do)

--what French legislators, the Pope, and feminists have in common

...and stay tuned for more updates "On Claremont"

Girlification and my Housewife Notions

I read an opinion piece this morning by feminist Polly Toynbee (I think it's safe to call her a feminist).  The article focuses on the "girlification" that continues to happen in Western culture, in spite of advances made by the feminist movement.  

It is always interesting for me to read these thoughts from women who were alive and actively involved in the feminist movement's rise in the late 1960's and early 1970's.  So many of them are still passionately focused on the benchmark ideals of the movement: equal wages for working women, gender neutrality in child rearing, shared home labor, etc.  Many, like Toynbee, feel discouraged that more progress has not been made.

I find myself filled with mixed feelings when I read their views, for many of the same reasons that I am currently wrestling with my occupation (see previous post).  I was born in the '80's, a full decade after the movement began, and am therefore way too young to have that nostalgic collective memory of revolution that still fuels them.  I've certainly inherited a righteous indignation for underpaid women, and I've even experienced some gender discrimination myself.  I can remember balking when a woman I once knew made the statement that "all mothers should stay home with their children," and getting fairly irked at a political seminar when the speaker focused only on what young men can do to prepare for office (hello!  did he see the women sitting in front of him?!).

On the other hand, I find myself gravitating toward the role of the domestic housewife--a role solidly rejected by feminists--and even see potential for it to contribute to the greater good.  I suppose this is why I noticed Toynbee's article in the first place.

I don't want to be guilty of only looking at the world through the eyes of feminist vs. traditionalist.  That is a tired argument and one I'm not sure I want to jump into (although perhaps I already have in spite of myself).   But I suppose I am guilty of looking at the world through the eyes of a woman.  It is potentially a narrow view, but we all have to pick some kind of lens to see things through.  

Anyway, more fodder on housewives to come!

To Hell with All That

In a grand experiment with my life, I recently (three months ago) decided to quit my career in finance with the intention of pursuing more entrepreneurial ventures from home (like writing, and selling hand-crafted items online).  Most of my friends and family have been supportive of the move, especially since I was so discontent in my occupation as a banker.  Regardless of the support, though, I cannot help but feel that I am cheating a little bit.  Cheating because I'm relying on my husband's income.  Cheating because I don't hop into the car every morning and ride off to the 9-5 grind.  Cheating because I'm home and Not raising children.  

It is probably because I am wrestling with my new "career" that I've started to leisurely research the role of the housewife in history and culture.  The traditional housewife is, after all, about the closest thing I can find to describe my current experiment with life.  Thus, the first book on my housewife list was To Hell with All That: Loving and Loathing Your Inner Housewife, by Caitlin Flanagan.  Published in 2006, this book has already stirred up my thoughts on all sorts of topics, like growing up in a post-feminist culture, having children, keeping a home, and the like.  

My intention is to write about these thoughts over the coming weeks, partly to purge my own brain, but also because I'm wondering if perhaps I am not the only young, twenty-something female who is wrestling with her place in the world (I invite all wrestlers to respond anytime!).

On another note, I will also be launching my online boutique shortly, updating my website, www.stephaniehillberry.com, and begin posting on Two new blogs (see sidebar).  Please visit any and all anytime!