Being a wife in the 1950s certainly came with its fair share of issues, and the New Zealand Woman’s Weekly of the time was there to help the humble homemaker with all sorts of advice for keeping a comfortable home and a successful relationship.
While the guidance we offered back then is wildly inappropriate for today’s young wives and partners, we did seem to try and balance the scales a little by placing the onus on men with our piece “Pointers for husbands”; though, our tip of always wearing a tie around the house might not have been the key to marital happiness, in hindsight!
We also offered a quiz for the new wife, “Are you the wife your husband married?” which offers a fascinating glimpse into the expected standards for women in the ‘50s.
Here at the office today, we’re mighty glad times have changed!
Are you the wife your husband married?
Here’s an exercise in truthfulness – be honest with yourself and pencil a “Yes” or “No” to the nine questions listed below. Check your score. A score of less than five is tough luck on him, seven means there’s still hope, while full marks should be checked by an unbelievably lucky husband.
