'Housewife' label 'outdated, sexist and embarrassing', say Sheffield women

Data showed that while Steel City women feel no shame in the important role of managing a house and bringing up a family, as many as 44 percent feel the word 'housewife' is outdated, while seven per cent deem the word to be sexist or embarrassing.

Nearly seven in ten of the females surveyed feel their skillsets lie in less practical areas than those of their mothers and grandmothers.

The data showed there are a host of traditional skills many women no longer possess, including how to gut and fillet a fish, pluck a pheasant, build a fire in the hearth and polish silverware.

The statistics are based on a poll of 2, 000 women conducted by My Nametags, a company which manufactures durable stickers and iron-on labels for clothing.

Lars Andersen, founder and managing director of the company, said: "The results show that priorities have changed over time, as modern women are not as interested in learning traditional skills, such as knitting or sewing.

“It seems we place less importance on these skills as being an accomplished woman today is much more about being happy, financially independent and having a good group of friends.”

The data also showed as many as 56 per cent of women in Sheffield believe they are highly accomplished, with a range of new skillsets such as empowering other women (39 per cent), having financial independence (53 per cent) and being well read (25 per cent) highlighted.

Overall, around 40 per cent of the surveyed women feel they are more fulfilled than their own mother was at the same age and 65 per cent feel they have a better work life balance.