Content Contributor: Wendy Busse-Coleman
Why this phrase still stings, and why it's time to retire it for good.
💬 Words Can Build. Words Can Harm.
The other day, my husband goes, "Hey, are you busy?" I mean, I was juggling writing, building advocacy campaigns, creating stuff, and squeezing in some laundry—so yeah, I was busy. But what he said next totally made me freeze:
"No, you're not busy. You're just a housewife, and housewives aren't busy.
Whether he meant it to hurt or not, it definitely did. That phrase, just a housewife, comes loaded with years of being brushed off, overlooked, and ignored. It’s like saying unpaid work doesn’t really matter. Like creativity, caregiving, and standing up for what’s right only count if there’s a paycheck or fancy title involved.
Alright, here’s the deal—I’ve been working since I was 16. I raised a son, started a small transportation business just for kids called "Kids on the Move," and held office jobs at different companies and organizations. I write, design, advocate, and educate—all from home. Not because I’m not ambitious, but because, honestly, the world isn’t exactly rolling out the welcome mat for women like me to jump back into the workforce. I learned that the hard way.
🧠The Myth of “Not Working”
These days, thinking that work only happens outside the home isn’t just old-fashioned – it’s totally off the mark. It ignores:
- Taking care of others
- Leveling up and thriving in the business world
- Turning your ideas into something awesome
- Standing up for your community
- Bouncing back and taking care of your mental health
And for older women, the barriers to re-entry into professional roles are steep.
📊 The Reality for Women 55+
According to the U.S. Department of Labor:
- More than 1 in 10 U.S. workers is a woman aged 55 or older
- Women 65+ earn just 73 cents for every dollar earned by men their age
- Older women face compounded ageism and sexism, often being passed over for roles or judged by appearance rather than experience
- Black and Hispanic women 65+ face poverty rates nearing 20%, despite decades of labor
Even with rich experience, many older women are funneled into low-wage, physically demanding jobs, or shut out entirely.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, The Rise of Older Women Workers (2023)
Source: Haeggquist & Eck, LLP, Challenges Faced by Older Women in the Workplace (2024)
💪 Reframing the Narrative
Nope, I’m definitely not "just a housewife."
I'm a creator, a strategist, and someone who's spent almost five decades hustling outside the home—still building, nurturing, and speaking up every single day. In addition to expanding my expertise in my area of passion.
Ever been shut down because your work doesn’t check some corporate box? Here’s the deal: what you do matters. Your time’s worth something. Your voice? It’s legit powerful.
📣 Call to Action
Let’s drop the whole “just a housewife” thing, okay?
It’s time to recognize the invisible hustle, the creative grind, and the sheer strength of the women who keep showing up—even when the world doesn’t notice.
And hey, if you’re reading this and feeling unnoticed, I see you. You’re not alone. You’re not “just” anything.
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