Why are the words "strong women" used only in reference to career women?

Question

But the word "only" is used in reference to stay at home moms or homemakers?

Why are career oriented mothers so glorified that they have earned the title "strong woman"?

Isn't a woman who has dedicated herself to her family equally strong?

Answer 1

Being a strong person comes from within yourself; it's the way you cope with your problems, be honest with yourself about your hopes and ambitions, and relate to other people. Whether you choose to have a career or stay at home doesn't really come into it, as long as you're doing what you feel is right for you and your family, no matter how society tries to influence you.

A woman who is dependent on her husband and submits to his authority because she is happiest that way is certainly more empowered and strong-willed than a woman who works just because people tell her she should. Good question.

Answer 2

Good point.  And yes, you're right.  

And on that note, how come fathers who work and have families don't get that kind of praise that working mothers do?  Is it just because we expect it from men?  Not to get too far off topic, but I actually think it can explain your question some as well.  For many, many years, women were expected to stay at home and raise the family.  Most of the women who worked outside the house were young and unmarried.  So I guess it stems from traditional roles.  Women who do "more" are looked at as being "stronger."  

Capricorn- Don't know what you're seeing, because I almost never see it.  Some individual fathers get that praise, but never, ever fathers on the whole.  Even on Father's Day, you see a lot of stuff about dads NOT in their kids' lives.  I have never, ever heard people getting on mothers who aren't involved in their kids' lives on Mother's Day.

Answer 3

i don't believe they are only used then. i certainly never thought of a career woman as any stronger. if any thing its harder to stay at home, home all day maintaining others never enough time for herself yet still manages every thing, they are the real strong woman. up at dawn to make everyone else lunch before your even sure you'll get breakfast. we wont get me started though.  good question .    

Answer 4

You're making this up.  That is not what is said.

Answer 5

Course some SAHM's are strong on a personal, one on one level...

However society has the view, that anything or anyone who is completely dependent upon another thing or being, isn't strong.

SAHM are dependent upon there husbands, for food shelter money etc.

honestly someone says sahm to me...some freakishly happy 1930's wife with perfect hair and teeth pop's in my head OR a worn out lump of a women with huge bags under her eyes....neither really aspire strength to me.

Answer 6

u aint met a spartan woman then, or my missus, i wouldnt say a career woman is a strong woman, far from it, a woman who knows what she wants and has no problem telling a man thats a strong woman career or not

Answer 7

probally due to the fact  of the stereotype that  SAHM.. gave up education  for family and are  dependent on the husbands income.but thats not the the case for all women some did got education but decided to stay home with kids.

Answer 8

cause an SAHM is viewed as a dependent. working mothers do both roles especially if they work part time they do it round their husbands.

i also think a lot of people i know think it cause at college and at work you get women who try to come back after having years and years off and they are not confident.

Answer 9

yes, Marissa, i prefer the woman who has dedicated herself to her family. kids need a mom at home. to help raise them and stuff like that. and i will not tolerate any other way. no latch key kids in my house!

Answer 10

yes she is. even more actually..  

Answer 11

I don't think this is true at all, I've heard SAHM's referred to as "strong."

Answer 12

The only strong woman is the one who lives life on her own terms and refuses to answer to anyone for it. These words are more likely to be applied to career women because they're more likely to be well-known.

Answer 13

Yap, same both ways but the career world needs strong leadership especially for a woman leading a pack of men to be taken seriously.

Answer 14

we live in a society that looks down on stay at home moms or homemakers, if a woman is a stay at home moms\homemakers she is automatically deemed as a failure or ambition-less or uneducated. This creates unnecessary pressure on woman that would like to dedicate their lives to building a family.

I do not think less of women that choose to be SAHM, i also don't judge those that wan't to be career women. Both are personal choices and neither should be praised or dispraised.

Answer 15

"Isn't a woman who has dedicated herself to her family equally strong? "

You're forgetting that, on top of their careers, most working mothers have to do what SAHMs do, also.  Studies have shown that, in spite of their careers, working mothers still do the bulk of the houshold chores.  That's very strong, in my opinion.

EDIT: Char

"A woman who is dependent on her husband and submits to his authority because she is happiest that way is certainly more empowered and strong-willed than a woman who works just because people tell her she should."

Does anyone know any women who do this?  Work because someone told them to?  I don't think so.

EDIT: Colonel Reb

I beg to differ.  I find that men get OVERLY praised for doing basic things that every parent does.  If a man changes diapers, it's some big deal.  If he cooks dinner, he's practically getting a Pulitzer prize.  It's so sad.