A Response to "Homemakers and Feminists: Side by Side, Not Head to Head"

Content producer D Armenta makes a lot of great points in her article "Homemakers and Feminists: Side By Side, Not Head to Head," but there is more that needs to be said. As a college-educated young woman who has been unemployed for over a year and half living with her boyfriend, I've experienced the misconceptions firsthand. Here is what I feel are a few misconceptions regarding anyone who doesn't currently work outside the home.

1. You must be so bored, especially if you don't have kids.

Actually, I have too much to do, and I imagine that most men and women who stay home feel the same way. There are Associated Content articles to write, issues to resolve, and the house to clean, among many other things. If you have any interests at all, you can find several ways to occupy your time and make yourself an interesting person with cultivated interests. In addition, there are several groups that could really use your assistance in a volunteer capacity. If you are bored at home, get out and volunteer.

2. You have nothing better to do, why not do this for me?

I find that I get this mostly from family. I get volunteered to help my Grandmothers and run errands for many people. In most cases, I don't mind a bit. However, as many other people who stay at home can attest, it can get old, especially when people appear not to value your time. Getting to spend a lot of time with my Grandparents has been a silver lining in a very dark period in my life. I wouldn't trade it for the world. At the same time, I wish that people would value my time as they would with people working full-time.

3. You have no schedule.

Maybe I've noticed this due to the fact that I've struggled to create a schedule in my own life. Either way, I imagine that many others experience this frustration as well. People assume that since you don't have a traditional work schedule, you have no schedule at all. If you make the decision to stay home with your children, or just to stay home, ensure that you set up a schedule before you do anything else. It will help you get everything accomplished that you wish to get accomplished, and you can give people an exact reply when they inquire about your life.