employeewife

Employeewife is a term that emerged in the mid-20th century, often used to describe a woman whose primary role was to support her husband's career, enabling him to dedicate himself fully to his work. This concept was particularly prevalent in societies where traditional gender roles were strongly established, and it was assumed that a wife's domestic responsibilities would free her husband from household chores and emotional burdens, thereby enhancing his professional productivity.

The employeewife was expected to manage the home, raise children, and provide emotional stability for her husband, acting as a silent partner in his professional success. Her own aspirations or career pursuits were often secondary or nonexistent. This dynamic was often portrayed in popular culture and advertising of the era. While it facilitated a certain division of labor that some found functional at the time, it also reinforced societal expectations that limited women's opportunities for personal and professional development outside the domestic sphere.

The term "employeewife" carries connotations of a past era and is rarely used in contemporary contexts. Modern discussions about work-life balance and gender roles tend to focus on more equitable partnerships and dual-career households, recognizing the contributions and aspirations of both partners in a relationship and in the workforce. The evolution of societal norms and increased participation of women in the workforce have largely rendered the employeewife concept obsolete.