Life of a Homemaker and a Working Women

Are you also a homemaker or housewife and struggling with mental stress, taunts from family members, or disrespect? Then this article is for you. Let’s be honest, life of a homemaker is very different from other women who work outside in jobs or do businesses. Just like everything has its own advantages and disadvantages, working full time in jobs or being a homemaker 24/7 also has its own advantages and disadvantages. In this article, I will tell you which option is better for a woman according to me and what physical and mental challenges come in both the jobs. Right now, I am also a homemaker taking care of my home and two kids along with doing blogging as a part time job. I have experienced so many different phases in my life, and I can tell you what you can do to make your life more stress free and valuable at the same time as a homemaker. Because nowadays, homemakers are not at all respected and people doesn’t think it as a job. Many people think, we just sit at home in front of TV, spend all their salary, do shopping, and don’t have any work to do. They don’t discuss any meetings, job related stuff, finances or advice from us, thinking we don’t know anything and know only kitchen work. But today, I am going to prove them wrong by telling you every detail of what a homemaker goes through and how much they work and what they expect in return.

In today’s evolving society, the role of women continues to diversify. Some women thrive in corporate environments, breaking glass ceilings and leading industries. Others dedicate their lives to homemaking, a full-time responsibility often underappreciated and misunderstood. The life of a homemaker is complex, challenging, and deeply rooted in emotional labor. It deserves recognition equal to that of working professionals. A homemaker, often referred to as a stay-at-home spouse (traditionally a woman), takes full responsibility for managing the home without expecting anything from others. This includes cooking, cleaning, budgeting, raising children, caring for elderly family members, and creating a nurturing environment. Though unpaid, the work is vital to the functioning of a family unit and contributes significantly to societal well-being. This is something many people forget about the role of a women. And women too, are thinking this as a useless thing and they need to focus on their career instead of building a home. They are not wrong because many women know how homemakers are treated since ages. What does a homemaker expect? Just some respect, value to their work, appreciation, care, and some financial freedom. But still they are not respected and valued much, so women today chose to stand on their feet and create their own identity to get some respect in the society. It’s the mindset of the society and our minds that needs to be changed. But since everything has a limit, you should not go beyond your limit. All women have their own opinions regarding this topic and some think homemakers’ job is better than working women. While some working women think, homemakers’ job is good than theirs. There are mixed views, and no one is getting to a conclusion. That why in this article I have written all the advantages and disadvantages of both working women and home makers and made their comparisons. And what you should choose to lead a comfortable and stress-free life.

A Day in the Life of a Homemaker: –

Work at home is never ending. You are continuously walking around the house collecting laundry, toys, dust, food on the floor, and constantly cleaning twice or thrice a day when you have kids around. You may have to prepare breakfast early in the morning, get ready your kids for school, clean the house, wash the dishes, was the laundry, cook lunch, organize your house, groom yourself, prepare some snacks, answer the phone calls that you get, buy grocery, etc. All this work may seen easy to others, but it is physically draining the one who does it everyday. A woman wakes up early in the morning before everyone and goes to sleep at night after everyone sleeps. While every homemaker’s routine varies based on where they live, with whom they live, how big are their kids, do they have kids, do they live with their in-laws, how big their houses are, how foodies their families are, how fitness freak their family members are, and if they are also doing any home-based side business or part time jobs from home. But still, common threads often include:

• Preparing 3-time meals and snacks in between for the family.

• Taking care of all the needs of family members from asking water to them to giving them whatever they ask.

• Managing household expenses like electricity bill, gas bill, groceries, rent, school fees, tuition fees, and shopping for themselves and their family members.

• Emotionally supporting everyone in the family including themselves because no one supports them when they are emotionally hurt expect their partners if they really love and respect them.

• Taking care of the health of family members by giving healthy foods to them and tablets if they are taking it daily.

• Ensuring children’s education progress, outdoor activities like taking kids to park or for a walk, and emotional support.

• Handling home maintenance, cleaning, repairing small things, and health care appointments of their family.

• Acting as the emotional anchor for the family.

• Waking up early in the morning before everyone and going to sleep after everyone goes to bed.

• Ignoring their health, emotional stress, physical stress, and diet.

• Always giving priority to others and avoids self-care and self-love.

What’s often unseen are the mental lists, constant multitasking, and emotional labor, like remembering birthdays, anniversaries, family functions, organizing family events, or smoothing tensions among relatives and family members. It’s work without weekends, holidays, or performance bonuses or salary. Though unpaid, homemaking is equivalent to managing operations, logistics, education, nutrition, healthcare, and human resources under one roof. A homemaker is a teacher, nurse, doctor, Lawer, judge, chef, waiter, advisor, cleaner, planner, coach, and also a maid in some cases when they are not given any respect or love from their partner or family members. Research suggests that if homemaking were compensated, its financial value would equate to a full-time salaried profession, sometimes exceeding six figures in developed economies. In many cultures, especially in South Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Africa, homemaking is often expected of married women. Even educated women with professional degrees may be encouraged—or pressured—to leave careers after childbirth or marriage. This could lead to identity loss in the women, especially if the woman had professional dreams before marriage, her contributions are not acknowledged or appreciated, or she begins to tie her self-worth solely to others’ needs.

Without avenues for creative expression or personal growth, homemakers can face mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, mood swings, irritation, under confidence, disrespected, and low self-esteem. They become emotionally broken and they feel something missing in their life though they have kids by their side, a good husband, good in-laws and amazing parents. Modern couples are increasingly redefining roles today. Some women choose to be homemakers because it aligns with their values. While other love to do job and make some money on their own as they love doing it. Some men are now taking on the homemaker role as well and taking care of the kids while allowing their partners to work outside from 9am to 6pm, signaling a gradual cultural shift. But stereotypes and societal scrutiny still linger—especially when a woman chooses to stay at home despite being capable of earning.

Advantages of Being a Homemaker: –

1. Closer Family Bonds: – Homemakers often enjoy more quality time with their children and family, which can lead to stronger emotional connections. They are always available for emotional support to their family members.

2. Flexible Schedule: – Though tasks are endless, homemakers often have more control over how they schedule their day. If they plan well, they can do everything perfectly and stress-free. They can eat whenever they want, they can sleep or take rest when they are not feeling good, they can go out for a walk or shopping whenever they want or talk to their family members and friends in the daytime.

3. Personal Fulfillment: – Many women find immense satisfaction in nurturing their family and managing the home efficiently than working outside in jobs from 9 to 6 pm and listening to the taunts of their boss and collogues.

4. Reduced Work-Related Stress: – Avoiding office politics, deadlines, presentations, meetings, appointments, and commuting can result in a less stressful lifestyle for all women as they have to come back home and give time to their family too.

5. Presence During Crucial Moments: – Being available for a child’s first steps, first word, first day of school, doing their homework, preparing them for exams, engaging them in games and activities, school events, waiting for your husband at home, or an elderly parent’s health needs or when your partner is not feeling well can be deeply fulfilling for a homemaker, and your partner and family members respect you for that.

Disadvantages of Being a Homemaker: –

1. Lack of Financial Independence: – Without personal income, homemakers may feel dependent or insecure financially. They may not be able to spend money according to their needs and should always ask their partners or family members when they want money. Some women get pocket money from their partners or parents but that also may not be enough and some don’t get anything.

2. Social Isolation: – Limited adult interaction outside the family can lead to feelings of loneliness and disconnection. Staying at home all day long especially when you live in a nuclear family where your husband goes to office and kids go to school with no one to talk, crack jokes, eat breakfast and lunch with others, experience how people behave outside, and workplace will you feel lonely.

3. Lack of Recognition: – Domestic labor is often undervalued and not seen as “real work,” despite being emotionally and physically demanding. When you tell others that you are a homemaker, they think you are not into any profession and just sitting at home and wasting time. But when you tell your working, everyone gets curious about your work, salary, and look at you with respect and as a very hardworking woman.

4. Monotony: – Routine household tasks like cooking, taking care of kids, and cleaning can become repetitive and draining over time. Especially when you don’t go out on weekends, vacations, family trips, meeting with friends, or to your parents’ house. You may feel like your life has become meaningless and you no longer enjoy what you do. Thats why it’s very important for all homemakers to engage in some activities like going to a gym, going to park for a walk, or doing what they love like painting, writing, reading, baking, part time jobs, side business, and trying new things.

5. Career Gaps: – Extended periods away from the workforce may lead to skill gaps, making re-entry difficult if desired later. You may have to start from zero again if you want to work again in the future after some years of your marriage, childbirth, or other responsibilities. So, it’s always better, to take out some time at least 30 minutes from your busy day schedule and learn new skills or practice your old skill.

A Day in the life of a Working Women: –

A working woman deals with a different kind of load often referred to as the double burden in today’s society where many people still think that a women should only take care of the home and family members and not go outside of the home to work. But still many women are breaking these norms and proving themselves in front of the world. Women are no less than men when it comes to studies, responsibilities, jobs, multitasking, presentations, leadership qualities, hard work, and communication skills. Women think that they can show all these skills only by doing jobs and business, but they can also show these skills in building a strong home by being a homemaker. They can study books and teach their kids all about knowledge, they can do all their family responsibilities, they can also do multitasking from cooking and cleaning at the same time, they can present themselves, their dishes, their home, and their organizing skills in a good manner. They can also build strong communication skills at home by talking, listening, giving advice, and telling important stuff to their family members, kids, relatives, and friends. It’s the choice they make either to develop or use all these skills at home for family or at job in front of their collogues and managers. But working at office is more tough than being at home. At home, when someone taunts you, you can reply back without any hesitation. But in front of your boss in office, you cannot tell a word or else they will deduct your salary or resign you from office. That why I always keep telling women to do their own business or part time jobs from the comfort of their home to gain some financial independence which is much easier than working in cooperate office all day. You will get enough time to bond with your family, raise kids, and also stand on your own feet and earn some money for yourself.

In some cases, when men don’t work and sit at home, the women have no choice other than to join in an office and work from 8 to 6pm. If they already have a business, they can continue that when their husbands go through financial loss or job resignation. But if your husband is already earning enough, you can put all your focus on home, family, kids, skills, part time job, or business. Because working in office and coming back home and doing the household work though your partner helps you is not at all easy for a woman. Especially when you are pregnant, breastfeeding, postpartum health, kids’ health, or going through any other health issue. Many parents put their small kids in daycares, preschool, or put Nannys in their home so that both the parents can earn some money by going to office at 8am and coming back at 6pm. Trust me, when your kids are small, you need to spend most of the time with them as they grow very fast and go in their own ways in terms of studying, jobs, relationships, and marriage. You are going to regret if you don’t give time to your kids now. If not both, at least one parent should be with the kids taking care of them. Watching their every milestone and watching them grow slowly and recording all their memories is the best feeling any parent can experience in their life. Because this time is not going to come back and time flies very fast.

A day in the life of a full-time working women, start by rising very early in the morning, preparing breakfast, lunch, getting kids ready for school, giving breakfast to husband or other family members and going to office. There she stays till 6pm and becomes very tired due to work pressure, taunts form managers and travelling. After coming home, she has to cook dinner, clean the kitchen and home, take care of kids, prepare any presentation or excel sheets for office the next and sleep at 10 or 11 pm at night. Though she does all this she is still judged for managing emails and meetings after coming from work, not cooking delicious dinner, not helping with kids’ homework, not caring for aging parents or her partner, for prioritizing her career over home and family, and is expected to excel at both work and home effortlessly. Many working women also face “motherhood penalty” at work by fewer promotions, assumptions about capability, and lack of support for maternity or childcare. Despite progress, women often still bear a larger share of housework—even when working full-time.

Advantages of being a working woman: –

1. Financial Independence: – A women’s salary offers autonomy and contributes to the family income, sometimes being the main source of financial stability if their partner is not working or if her salary is more than their partners. No one like to beg money for their expenses from their partners or parents. That why, many women prefer financial independence as soon as they complete their studies. And trust me women’s expenses are more and costly compared to men.

2. Personal Development: – Professional life offers learning, growth, promotions, learning new skills, confidence, good communication skills, financial support, independence, and intellectual stimulation for the women.

3. Social Interaction: – Daily engagement with peers fosters networking, friendships, ideas, respect, recognition, applause, and broader perspectives.

4. Recognition and Achievement: – Career achievements offer visible validation and societal recognition.

5. Role Modeling: – Working mothers can serve as strong role models for their children, especially daughters.

Disadvantages of being a working woman: –

1. Work-Life Imbalance: – Balancing career with domestic responsibilities often leads to burnout.

2. Guilt and Pressure: – Many working women struggle with guilt for not being “present enough” at home.

3. Limited Time for Self: – Managing both spheres leaves little room for self-care and hobbies.

4. Gender Bias at Work: – Women still face workplace discrimination, pay gaps, and glass ceilings in many sectors.

What Can Society Do Better?

1. Stop Comparing Women’s Choices: – Working or homemaking—neither choice is easy, and both involve sacrifice. Respect each path.

2. Reframe the Definition of Work: – Work is not defined only by income. Homemaking is unpaid but essential.

3. Include Financial Literacy for Homemakers: – Homemakers should be part of family financial decisions, have their own savings, and possibly retirement benefits.

4. Create Support Systems: – More community support, skill-based workshops, and mental health services should be available for homemakers.

5. Shared Responsibility: – Husbands and children should share household duties. It’s not “help”—it’s equal participation.

My Experience: –

When I was a teenager, I also wanted to study and become something and earn my own money along with following my religions teachings. I always wanted to balance them both. I was not very good in studies but also not very bad. I was an average student in between 70 to 80%. I loved science and wanted to become a doctor. But after a few years, I understood how tuff those studies are so dropped that plan and thought of doing a course in computer science as I loved working on computers. So, I did a one-year course in computers and a 3-year degree in another subject. Right after my degree, I got married and my life changed. With marriage came responsibilities, kids, cooking, cleaning, emotions, work, taking care of family members, and other priorities. For the first 4 years of my marriage, all my time went in understanding marriage, pregnancies, babies, my health, household work, and self-care. I never thought of earning or building my career as I was so busy with household work, family, and kids. In between, when my first son was 2 years old, I thought of starting my own career and started researching on jobs that are flexible and according to my wish list. After a long search, I found out that only blogging and vlogging are good for those who want to work on their own in their safe place and according to their own timings.

I chose blogging as I loved to write articles on my own. And this was something very new to me. I didn’t have enough time throughout the day, so I wrote articles whenever I was free and that would be once a week or sometimes once in 3 weeks. I was different from others. I wanted to do my best as a homemaker and also be an entrepreneur or a businesswoman. I thought blogging as a side business and started investing my time and money on it. But since my first priority was my marriage and kid’s responsibilities, I did them first. I wanted to build my career because I saw it as an opportunity to connect to the world and help them with my tips that worked for me in my life. And along with that earn some money for my personal expenses. Though my parents and husband gave me some pocket money, I never felt that money as my own. And I never wanted to ask them money for my personal needs or to buy something for me. I wanted my own money to do all these. And I think many women think the same. No one wants to beg for money in front of their spouse or parents for their expenses. And that is why I started blogging after 2 years of marriage but started working fully on it after 5 years of my marriage.

And I also noticed that women you earn money in a good way are more respected in their home. And own business from her house is the best thing a women can do. It’s safe, no need to go outside for work every day from 8 to 6pm, no need to listen to your manager, you can take holidays whenever you want, you will have flexible hours of working, you can work whenever you want, and you can earn more than you do in jobs. We lived in a nuclear family, so I didn’t have much work at home. My work was to take care of kids, husband, house, cooking, cleaning, and working every one hour on my laptop. When my kids were small, it was very difficult to work. I didn’t get time at all. I had to spend my free time with them to play and talk with them. Because if I work at that time, my kids may feel bored and sad. So, I gave my maximum time to them and worked only when they slept or when they went to school.

Nowadays, earing from home has become very easy and any homemaker can do it from her home. Before, there were not many options available. Now if you have internet and a phone or a laptop, you can do many things. Today many homemakers are into freelancing if they have good knowledge in their studies, doing online courses, vlogging, blogging, YouTube, reels, cooking business, teaching, tuition for kids, arts, craft, sewing clothes, teaching online, fashion designing, and daycare. If you really want to earn money, you will find out something from all these professions. If you don’t like working or over burdening yourself with responsibilities and career and want to remain as a homemaker, it’s your choice and that is also a good decision. You can give much time to your family and watch them grow along with you. But if you are working full time, you may not be able to give enough time to your family and there will be some days where you will feel irritated and depressed. So be prepared for all these when you want to balance both home, kids, and work. Choose your career wisely.

Final Thoughts: –

Both homemakers and working women play vital roles in society. One nurtures at home, the other contributes to professional spheres—and often, women juggle both. Neither role is superior, both demand effort, sacrifice, and strength. What matters most is choice. A woman should have the freedom to choose what aligns with her personal aspirations and family circumstances—without judgment or societal pressure. The roles of women are no longer binary. Many are fluid—working from home, freelancing, starting side businesses, or returning to the workforce after a break. Whether a woman chooses to be a homemaker, a professional, or both, the key is agency. In a world that’s rapidly redefining gender roles, the concept of a homemaker remains both timeless and controversial. For centuries, women have been at the heart of households, often silently orchestrating the rhythm of everyday life. Today, as more women step into boardrooms, run startups, and lead in STEM fields, the value of homemaking still deserves thoughtful reflection—not as a fallback, but as a valid and intentional lifestyle. Whether by choice or circumstance, being a homemaker comes with a mix of privileges, pressures, and personal evolution. So, respect the homemaker, celebrate the working woman and support both. And if you really want some financial independence along with homemaking, choose work from home jobs, or side business that offer you comfort, income, safety, flexible timings, and holidays.