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Minding the house and community
By Fei Lai |
July 25, 2011, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
MANY Changning homemakers - don't call them mere housewives - consider themselves busy professionals, and they're the mainstay of families and pillars of the community. Fei Lai reports.
Being a full-time housewife is busy, demanding and fulfilling, at least in Zhoujiaoqiao Community. Many regard themselves as "professional" housewives devoted to both family and community.
Not only do they take care of their home, children, cooking and cleaning (though some have ayis), family finances and sometimes their husbands' paychecks, but they also contribute to their community through volunteer activities.
Chen Yu living in Yanlord Riverside Gardens is in her 30s and considers herself a "career women," a full-time housewife. She married her classmate right after graduation and has been "working" at home for 11 years.
"It's true that I'm free when most women are occupied at their jobs," Chen says. "But it's not easy to spend the free hours. I like to make the time meaningful."
Before she was pregnant, Chen took classes in dance, yoga, traditional Chinese painting, piano and ballet. Her focus was only on herself and her husband back then.
Then there was a baby who became her priority. Now he's 21 months old.
"I employ a baby-sitter, but most of the time I watch her do the job and help," Chen says. "Since he's growing up, I'm gradually returning to my former hobbies - Monday ballet, Tuesday and Thursday yoga, Friday mahjong."
She is enthusiastic about community activities and keeping a trim figure, taking part in community dance competitions.
Since she became a mother, volunteering has become important.
"Once you have a child, you cannot bear to see any child suffering from misfortune," Chen says. "It's more than just showing sympathy for them. I can feel the pain of their parents and have a strong will to help them."
Chen helps children with cerebral palsy and those who are mentally challenged. She served as a volunteer at a nearby rehabilitation center on Ziyun Road, but when she learned that a new center was opened by the mother of a developmentally challenged boy who was abandoned by the father, she decided to spend more time there.
The woman sold her house for funds to open the center in Minhang District and especially welcomes families with children to volunteer. "Here healthy children are encouraged to play with mentally challenged children, so I take my son there," says Chen.
Rearing a child and taking care of her community are part of her career and it's not that easy.
"'Full-time housewife' is not just a title," she says. "It's a job that can be even harder than a 'real' job at a company," she says. "You have to face a variety of unexpected situations, like the baby getting sick. Joining community activities expands my social network and makes me feel valuable to society."
Chen says the support from her husband is a big reason why she is a happy, full-time housewife.
"He really spoils me. I'm in full charge of his bank card and he never makes demands that are too high," Chen says. "When I graduated from university, I became his wife and I haven't 'worked' a day since then."
Gu Yannan, an employee of the Yanlord Riverside Garden, says that full-time housewives like Chen have become a major force in making community events a success.
"They are energetic and innovative," Gu says. "Their young and beautiful faces have become a part of our community culture."
Lin Mingxi, with a Japanese husband and two daughters, has been a full-time housewife for 11 years.
"When I first moved to Shanghai from Japan five years ago, I found my life restricted to a small circle," Lin says. "So community life with neighbors has been vital to me." She has studied tai chi for four years and says the practice has enriched her life. She practices together with 13 Japanese housewives twice a week.
Lin says she and the Japanese women share Japanese food culture with the community and exchange ideas about educating children with other mothers.
"Being home with her family is the best thing for a woman, as most Japanese think," she says.
"When I devote myself to my family, I do sacrifice a lot and sometimes I even think I am losing myself. I worry that once my kids grow up they won't need me any longer and by that time I probably won't be accepted by society," Lin says.
Being a full-time housewife is busy, demanding and fulfilling, at least in Zhoujiaoqiao Community. Many regard themselves as "professional" housewives devoted to both family and community.
Not only do they take care of their home, children, cooking and cleaning (though some have ayis), family finances and sometimes their husbands' paychecks, but they also contribute to their community through volunteer activities.
Chen Yu living in Yanlord Riverside Gardens is in her 30s and considers herself a "career women," a full-time housewife. She married her classmate right after graduation and has been "working" at home for 11 years.
"It's true that I'm free when most women are occupied at their jobs," Chen says. "But it's not easy to spend the free hours. I like to make the time meaningful."
Before she was pregnant, Chen took classes in dance, yoga, traditional Chinese painting, piano and ballet. Her focus was only on herself and her husband back then.
Then there was a baby who became her priority. Now he's 21 months old.
"I employ a baby-sitter, but most of the time I watch her do the job and help," Chen says. "Since he's growing up, I'm gradually returning to my former hobbies - Monday ballet, Tuesday and Thursday yoga, Friday mahjong."
She is enthusiastic about community activities and keeping a trim figure, taking part in community dance competitions.
Since she became a mother, volunteering has become important.
"Once you have a child, you cannot bear to see any child suffering from misfortune," Chen says. "It's more than just showing sympathy for them. I can feel the pain of their parents and have a strong will to help them."
Chen helps children with cerebral palsy and those who are mentally challenged. She served as a volunteer at a nearby rehabilitation center on Ziyun Road, but when she learned that a new center was opened by the mother of a developmentally challenged boy who was abandoned by the father, she decided to spend more time there.
The woman sold her house for funds to open the center in Minhang District and especially welcomes families with children to volunteer. "Here healthy children are encouraged to play with mentally challenged children, so I take my son there," says Chen.
Rearing a child and taking care of her community are part of her career and it's not that easy.
"'Full-time housewife' is not just a title," she says. "It's a job that can be even harder than a 'real' job at a company," she says. "You have to face a variety of unexpected situations, like the baby getting sick. Joining community activities expands my social network and makes me feel valuable to society."
Chen says the support from her husband is a big reason why she is a happy, full-time housewife.
"He really spoils me. I'm in full charge of his bank card and he never makes demands that are too high," Chen says. "When I graduated from university, I became his wife and I haven't 'worked' a day since then."
Gu Yannan, an employee of the Yanlord Riverside Garden, says that full-time housewives like Chen have become a major force in making community events a success.
"They are energetic and innovative," Gu says. "Their young and beautiful faces have become a part of our community culture."
Lin Mingxi, with a Japanese husband and two daughters, has been a full-time housewife for 11 years.
"When I first moved to Shanghai from Japan five years ago, I found my life restricted to a small circle," Lin says. "So community life with neighbors has been vital to me." She has studied tai chi for four years and says the practice has enriched her life. She practices together with 13 Japanese housewives twice a week.
Lin says she and the Japanese women share Japanese food culture with the community and exchange ideas about educating children with other mothers.
"Being home with her family is the best thing for a woman, as most Japanese think," she says.
"When I devote myself to my family, I do sacrifice a lot and sometimes I even think I am losing myself. I worry that once my kids grow up they won't need me any longer and by that time I probably won't be accepted by society," Lin says.
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