The question of the rightful way of raising children has always been of major importance, as one might say, the next generation holds the destiny of humankind in their hands. However, society’s perception of stay-at-home-mothering (SAHM) can fluctuate, inspiring a lot of confusion among the mothers themselves. Typically, they are unsure as to how to perceive their role in society, and whether or not to consider being SAHM as a relevant, and most importantly, a respectful occupation. Despite that, the stereotype of a dissatisfied housewife has mostly faded away into the past – and the reason for it is in people who view SAHM as a role deserving reverse and applause, despite a commonplace stigma of SAHMs – and my opinion tends to align with that statement.
In my opinion, there is nothing indignant or less significant socially to staying at home and raising your children, as they require an excessive amount of care, and attention and generally, depend on their mothers for everything. Whichever way, the choice should be made by the mother herself. The determining factor is the mother’s satisfaction. In the study done by Cranney and Milles, the concept of SAHM satisfaction compared to employed women is assessed, with “both SAHMs and employed mothers reported high levels of satisfaction” which directly points to the fact that both occupations are, indeed, fulfilling in their own respectful manner (2016, p. 15). Another factor impacting the satisfaction of mothers is their perception of their current at-home role: the study found that “knowing that staying at home is an interruption rather than an end to paid employment might change its emotional impact” (Cranney & Milles, 2016, p. 18). In this way, my personal opinion is decided by the factors mentioned above, as I perceive the mother’s well-being and personal satisfaction as crucial to answering the question of the essay.
In conclusion, it can be stated that, regardless of society’s perception of the mother’s role, the core principle of a healthy family remains the mother’s personal satisfaction with her life and work. While raising children while also pursuing a career can be overwhelming for some, for other women it is an outlet for their personal achievement. I consider both paths to be equally respectable; after all, it depends on the parenting style and particular situation of a family, as well as the mother’s personal needs, desires, and the perception of her own self.
Reference
Cranney, S. & Miles, A. (2016). Desperate Housewives? Differences in Work Satisfaction Between Stay-At-Home and Employed Mothers. Journal of Family Issues, 38(11), pp. 1604–1625.