Adam Smith, author of Wealth of Nations and the man viewed as the forefather of capitalism, famously stated:
“It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest.”
Meanwhile, Adam Smith lived with his mother for most of his life. After she died, Smith’s cousin Janet took over the duties of doting on him. It’s unclear where unpaid labor — e.g. making dinner — fits into the influential economist’s mindset.
Henry David Thoreau wrote this in his iconic book, Walden:
“I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms.”
Meanwhile, Walden Pond was hardly off the beaten path. It was about a half-mile from the nearest railroad.
During the two years of writing his famous book, Thoreau’s mother cooked his food and did his laundry. (Unpaid, of course.) Apparently, such sturdy labor was a little too much marrow for his Spartan-like taste.
Reminder: History is a ploy.
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years ago a Belgian politician started a party that would have paid women (or men if they so chose to) to stay at home and do the housework. All the others immediately jumped on the proposal, stating that it would be too expensive, impossible.. you name it. But the guy had done his homework and proved that it was very well possible. Of course, lots of emancipated women declared not to want this, either. Such a shame. I think a stay-at-home mom should certainly be paid. I know one with 5 kids who homeschools and has a farm. I thank that woman deserves a wage! Instead they have to pay school taxes for a school they do not use! (and so do all of us without kids)
Those are some interesting tidbits regarding Adam Smith and Thoreau. No man is an island I suppose, or else we start naming our soccer balls Winston and talking to them. It's still amazing how much women's work goes on the background, unnoticed and unacknowledged...