In my experience there are three types of homemaker mothers.
The first is the happy housewife, truly happy with her place in live, and who honestly enjoys her day to day existence as such. These are the ones I take no issue with.
The second is the abused housewife, kept in her position by a domineering husband who allows her no other position in life. These women should not be looked down on for their displeasure at their position in life, but should be encouraged to escape and lift themselves to better.
The third is the least often I think discussed, but in my experience the most common. The housewife who wishes only to be cared for by a man, living a life of leisure while he works to provide for the family. These are the women who's sole aspiration is to marry a man of wealth who can provide for their every whim.
If a woman is happy with her role as homemaker, and sees herself as an equal to her husband, then it is a valid life choice. If she is pushed into this position by her belief that she is less valuable than he is, then it is not her choice, and therefore not valid for her. If she is seeking this role in life in the belief that her life should be bonbons, pool boys and soap operas, this is not fair to the average man who gets sucked into this kind of trap.
I'm not saying being a housewife is a bad thing, but I think we all have to admit that a good number of the women in this life have no business being there.
Then there's the complete other end of the spectrum, and far more despised than the stay at home mom, the stay at home dad. These men, while providing a valuable male influence for their young sons and daughters, are looked down on as not fulfilling their male duty of providing for the family or being the breadwinner. They are scorned as moochers, bums, or not keeping up their end of the bargain for the women they live with. My boyfriend is a stay at home dad to our girls. I work, while he cares for them, teaches them, and keeps the house. He is no bum, and no moocher. Without him, I would be unable to work the hours I do or make the paychecks I do because daycare is far too expensive, and isn't available during my shifts. He does all this and more, yet my family, and some of his look down on him for it.
The problem with American society honestly is that we always see one gender as greater than the other in some form or fashion. It isn't genders that are better suited to one task or another, but individuals, and it is most important that we see this in ourselves and others and choose mates that compliment us.
