What she says in the second panel is a common belief, but it isn’t quite true. The book of Proverbs in the Bible was written about three thousand years ago. Most of the last chapter is about what an “excellent wife” is like. Among other things, it says:
She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. (Prov. 31:16-17)
She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant. (Prov. 31:24)
So, 3,000 years ago, it was considered good for a wife to help provide for her family.
The book of Acts in the New Testament, which tells of things that happened in the first century, mentions a woman named Lydia, who was a “seller of purple”, that is, she sold purple dye, which was very expensive, to make money.
But we can go much farther back than that. I’ve read books about tribes that still live in the Stone Age, and it’s common (at least in the books I’ve read) that the women gather and/or raise vegetables and fruits to provide food for their families, while the men hunt to provide meat. While the things in these books happened in the 20th century, they describe how people have lived for thousands of years, and how probably most people lived in the Stone Age. Women have always worked to provide for their families. It seems to be a relatively recent idea that women’s only purpose is to take care of the children and do housework.
Unfortunately today a lot of women are just in the work place doing low level jobs, trying to scratch a living because of the break up of the nuclear family. To many dead beat dads.
What always gets ignored in the common historical idea Delta suggests is that while the men were hunting the women were busy gathering food – they were the gatherers in hunters and gatherers – in fact according to some anthropologists they may have been the major food providers. There are a lot of other examples of essential work women did in earlier historical periods but I also realize that’s not the point of today’s strip.
Many working couples have found that what they really need is a wife. My first wife and I used to make that joke. Later, she went out and found her own wife. :)
Drag0nr1der over 3 years ago
I like that word, Allowed (NOT)
Troglodyte over 3 years ago
Double the work, half the money? :D
Purple People Eater over 3 years ago
What she says in the second panel is a common belief, but it isn’t quite true. The book of Proverbs in the Bible was written about three thousand years ago. Most of the last chapter is about what an “excellent wife” is like. Among other things, it says:
She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. (Prov. 31:16-17)
She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant. (Prov. 31:24)
So, 3,000 years ago, it was considered good for a wife to help provide for her family.
The book of Acts in the New Testament, which tells of things that happened in the first century, mentions a woman named Lydia, who was a “seller of purple”, that is, she sold purple dye, which was very expensive, to make money.
But we can go much farther back than that. I’ve read books about tribes that still live in the Stone Age, and it’s common (at least in the books I’ve read) that the women gather and/or raise vegetables and fruits to provide food for their families, while the men hunt to provide meat. While the things in these books happened in the 20th century, they describe how people have lived for thousands of years, and how probably most people lived in the Stone Age. Women have always worked to provide for their families. It seems to be a relatively recent idea that women’s only purpose is to take care of the children and do housework.
Tyge over 3 years ago
Greg snark; take two. Take on was on Tuesday.
BeniHanna6 Premium Member over 3 years ago
Unfortunately today a lot of women are just in the work place doing low level jobs, trying to scratch a living because of the break up of the nuclear family. To many dead beat dads.
raybarb44 over 3 years ago
The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world. I guess that means day care workers now…..
kauri44 over 3 years ago
What always gets ignored in the common historical idea Delta suggests is that while the men were hunting the women were busy gathering food – they were the gatherers in hunters and gatherers – in fact according to some anthropologists they may have been the major food providers. There are a lot of other examples of essential work women did in earlier historical periods but I also realize that’s not the point of today’s strip.
mistercatworks over 3 years ago
Many working couples have found that what they really need is a wife. My first wife and I used to make that joke. Later, she went out and found her own wife. :)
CoreyTaylor1 over 3 years ago
Then again, women created the world’s oldest profession… Prostitution.