I found myself particularly amused recently as I listened to an airing of the new D.L. Hughley radio show. D.L. and his midday crew shared an interesting list of marriage philosophies from the 1950s. Which D.L. highlighted, despite our fight for racial equality, helped marriages survive.
Relationships of the 50’s appeared to have more staying power than most marriages today. Protect your home and stand by your man were the basic principles men and women of that era lived by. Could it have been because women were more tolerant of the traditional roles they played in the home. Or maybe because more men felt it necessary that they be considered head of the household during that time. Whatever it may have been, it seemed to have an impact on those marriages.
So as D.L read off the list, I chuckled. But at the same time I wondered, what if we were to take those traditional ideas and give them a modern day makeover? So here goes:
1. Women shouldn’t talk. I guess women were to be seen and not heard too often. Of course this isn’t realistic. We have a voice, thoughts and opinions that greatly impact our marriage, family and our community in general. Although we will talk and be heard, what if we were thoughtful and loving in how we communicated. Screaming and being disrespectful with our words have no place in a marriage.
2. Cook daily, because lousy cooking drives men away. They use to say a way to a man’s heart was through his stomach. Quite naturally feeding a husband makes him happy. We can get creative with our meal prep and even include the whole family. This makes it fun and takes some of the burden off the wife.
3. Wear pink panties. I wasn’t quite sure what this one meant. I am thinking it relates to a women’s femininity. While the panties don’t necessarily have to be pink, they should definitely be sexy. Lacey and revealing always bring some excitement to the bedroom.
4. Be frisky, a sexual vampire. This statement suggested women be available whenever their husband was in the mood. Realistically, since more women work outside the home, it’s hard to always be ready, willing and able for sexual escapades. We have to remember intimacy doesn’t always have to include sex. Touching, kissing and stimulating in other ways are beneficial to both partners.
5. Let him have a little fun every now and then, because it doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you. Meaning we should accept a man’s cheating ways. Sorry all, but no modern day twist on this one. Both husbands and wives have to be faithful. The marriage won’t work otherwise.
6. Your husband is the boss of you. This may have worked in the ’50s, but using the term “boss” in a marriage could be problematic. We should substitute boss with the word “partner”. We are in our marriages together and have to make decisions together. We should definitely support and encourage one another. I must admit, my marriage works best for us, with my husband as the head. I look to him for protection and trust the decisions he makes for us.
While many of the traditional thoughts are a bit challenging to apply to our marriages today, times have changed, people have changed. But our marriages still need the same amount of attention. I hope that marriages today will incorporate new ways to create the same staying power used in the ’50s.
BMWK, what are your thoughts on this list from the 1950s?