Online feminist communities are places of empowerment for women.  One of their basic principles is that women can do and be anything they want, and women from all walks of life participate in them.  But there is a common misconception that feminists can’t be housewives or stay at home moms.  This sometimes results in negativity toward those who choose to be homemakers.

There are numerous online communities for housewives and stay at home moms.  Overall these communities represent a positive trend, but there tends to be some negativity lurking within them as well.  Members often feel that they have no choice but to stay at home, and that can be very depressing.  Those members who feel that they have to stay at home but aren’t bothered by it may be critical of those who feel that they should be making more of a contribution, and vice versa.

Communities designed for feminist housewives are much less common than feminist communities or housewife communities, but they serve a very important purpose.  They let housewives who wonder if they’re doing the right thing as feminists know that they are not alone in their decision to take the domestic route.  They also give feminists who are staying at home by choice a unique opportunity to communicate with like-minded women and share their feelings about staying at home, both good and bad.

A feminist housewife community is less judgmental by design than many other communities for women.  The fact that members are concerned about women’s rights yet have chosen a path that is considered traditional means that they are likely more tolerant of different points of view.  While they may not agree with everything that is said, they will usually be willing to debate points they disagree with maturely and intelligently.

A feminist housewife community can also keep us informed on matters that are important to us.  Most feminist communities do not offer much in the way of parenting advice, and housewife communities rarely get heavily involved in women’s rights issues.  A feminist housewife community gives us a central location where we can go to find information about parenting techniques, health, politics, the environment, and other issues that are important to us.

Women today have more options than ever before, yet many are choosing to stay at home, keep house and raise the kids.  The difference between them and women of decades past is that they are staying home because they feel it is the best choice for them, not because they feel obligated to.  Being a housewife is no less valid a choice than pursuing a career, and a feminist housewife community recognizes and celebrates that fact.