I'm Living a Social Experiment for one Year... and going slightly insane...

[marzipan]

I'm so glad I found this website! I need help!
I'm currently nearing the 100th day of my social experiment, My 50's Year, where I live the role of a stereotypical 50's housewife. Things were going pretty smoothly for a while but every couple of weeks I plunge into crippling confusion that I have to pep talk my way out of.
I'm a feminist and thought this project would be fun and scary and telling of who I really am. But sometimes it just seems like too much. Anyhow, I suppose I'm just looking for some validation of how I'm feeling. I intend on carrying on with the project because the thought of the last 4 months being for naught would probably drive me over the edge. : } I'm just searching for some feminist perspective and coming from housewives and stay-at-home-moms would be great.
Thanks for listening!
xoxo

[Amer clark]

do you have kids? If you don't, then I would imagine that being at home would be isolating and pretty unrewarding.

[Erin C]

I'm really curious as to what initiated your social experiment. Have you lived different experiments in the past?

[Marion]

I'm curious what your idea of a "50's housewife" is. In the 50's, my grandma put her laundry through a mangle before hanging it out on a line. Didn't have a driver's license or second car. No television, just radio for entertainment. Grew and canned produce to last much of the year. Played the piano or cards in the evening. Got her hair set every week down to the beauty parlor for lack of user-friendly home beauty products.

If you really mean just cooking, cleaning, and raising the kids, I wouldn't call that a 50's housewife. Just a housewife. Which, imho, isn't at odds with the ideals of feminism.