I use the term SAHM when describing myself, but only because I do more mom stuff in a day than wife stuff. I do lots of things for my husband, but nothing compared to how many activities during my day are kid/baby related. The term housewife isn't offensive, just not terribly accurate in my situation.

It doesn't really bother me, I stood home for six months with my daughter and while I don't recall anyone ever calling me a "housewife" I don't think it would have irritated me. Its a lot easier to say then Stay At Home Mom lol.

I'm a housewife and I don't find the term offending at all.

I say, Who Cares??? Good for you if you are a mom that has a job. Good for you if you are a mom that stays home. And good for you if you are a housewife. It takes too much effort to get offended by this stuff.

I don't find it the least bit offensive.It's what I am.....

I am a mom of two, and it was actually a personal descision to take both of my kids out of daycare and become a "housewife". I am actually kind of proud to be at home with my kids, their disposition changes drastically when I am at home vs them being in daycare. Also, my house is always spotlessly clean, so I can enjoy "family" time when my husband is home on the weekends

I am a mom of two, and it was actually a personal descision to take both of my kids out of daycare and become a "housewife". I am actually kind of proud to be at home with my kids, their disposition changes drastically when I am at home vs them being in daycare. Also, my house is always spotlessly clean, so I can enjoy "family" time when my husband is home on the weekends

Doesn't bother me even a tiny bit.

i always thought a housewife referred to a woman that was childless or an empty nester staying home. while a stay at home mom is well self explanatory. either way i think the term housewife is dated and I don't hear it much anymore. I would surly correct someone if they called me a housewife though, i am a SAHM!!

I think a housewife is different from a stay at home mom. A housewife stays at home and takes care of the home for her and her husband but has no children.
I don't find either term derogatory but I am not either one so I can't speak from experience.

I would consider myself a stay at home mom before I would consider myself a housewife. I suck at the whole cleaning and cooking thing, I focus 90% of my energy on my child and tend to forget that there is a sink full of dishes. When hubby gets home he plays with Madi and I do the dishes then. When Madi is a little older then I will worry about the house being spotless, then I will consider myself a SAHM/housewife. The term isn't offensive to me; I just don't think it applies.

I thought the new term for "housewife" was "homemaker." Either way, it doesn't really bother me, but as another poster mentioned, it seems more fitting for a woman with no kids who stays home (like I was for a few years quite honestly). I think SAHM is definitely more encompassing and accurate.

And I on occasion do like to sit on my couch with and watch soapy TV while my son is napping. SAHMs need breaks, too!

I don't think it's offensive, just horribly outdated.

stay-at-home, housewive, etc. same thing. It doesn't bother me.

–noun
1. a married woman who manages her own household, esp. as her principal occupation.
2. British. a sewing box; a small case or box for needles, thread, etc.
–verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
3. Archaic. to manage with efficiency and economy, as a household.

I don't see anything offensive about it. And while SAHM is probably more descriptive for the modern mother, housewife would still be apt as raising children could be considered a vital part of the household.

And in this day, managing something with efficiency and economy should be lauded. I'd take it as a complement.

Depending on where you live, the terms housewife and stay-at-home-mom are interchangeable. Here, either is used.

I like the SAHM, haven't really heard the term used a lot but I'll throw it around my office to see what reaction I can get.

Personally I like stay@home mom. I would love to be at home with my child and be a part of his monumental moments instead of his grandmother.

Housewife isn't offensive as it had seem to be in the late 90's.

housewife sounds like you're CONFINED to the home. person i picture is the classic apron wearing, donna reed baking the perferct casserole using 1950's kitchen appliances.

SATM is like, "yes, I'm home taking care of my children, but I also..."

I really don't see what the big deal is, if you are a wife that stays at home, then what about the term offends you? I think people are the ones who put too much meaning into words. It is just a word, a term that has a standard definition, problems begin to arise when people read way more meaning into a simple word.

Stay at home mom sounds more confining to me. *lol* You stay at home! I don't find it offensive though.

It's not offensive to me

Well it would be nice if there was a term that clearly acknowledged the SAHMs for their domestic labor, which isn't valued as much as it should be in certain societies.

As you can tell by my login, I like the term housewife. It sums up what I do now. But I don't have any kids yet, so that could be why.

I don't see anything wrong with staying at home and running a family, esp. if you have a hubby who is gone with work a lot of the time. To me, to say something is "offensive" implies that there is some kind of shame or wrong doing with it. I don't see that at all.

I have no problem being in an apron and making a casserole, it doesn't take away my degree or make me any less smart.

I am not offended by it. I feel like some people look down on the decision no matter what you call it. Working moms feel the same way, though.
I would love to be able to pull off a June Cleaver! I am not that disciplined.

The term housewife does not offend me at all. I love being a housewife - indeed I am The 21st Century Housewife of the website of the same name! There is absolutely nothing wrong with a woman working outside the home but for me, housewifery is my career of choice -so I'm happy for people to call me what I am!

I think that it also depends on the way people are saying the term housewife. My husband is one that uses the term in a way that is insulting. He seems to think I do nothing all day when he is at work. I have a 1 year old and am taking full-time classes. I much prefer the term stay at home mom. He is much older than I am so he learned from his parents the roles of a wife. I am constantly trying to tell him it is not the same thing. I don't see why if he makes himself something to snack on why it is my job to clean up after him. Most men with the mentality of calling their wife a housewife think that their spouse is incapable of making it financially on their own, which certainly isn't true. Women who stay home with their children deserve a lot of respect for what they do. One day my husband will figure out that he doesn't know a thing about our son and he will regret calling caring for him my job.

Also I would have you know that the term housewife derives from the word hussy. Therefore meaning "worthless woman". It is never ok to be called a worthless women so why is it ok to be called a housewife?