Jezebel: how to be a good husband

What Makes A Good Wife Or Husband? You Tell Us

Jessica — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:30:00 EST

So we've been posting all these excerpts from the reprints of How to be a Good Husband and How to be a Good Wife for your amusement (and, perhaps, education?). Although the manuals, written in the 1930s, seemed reasonably progressive for their time ("Don't pose as a weak little thing," Good Wife admonishes), they certainly don't cover most of the issues germane to a romantic entanglement in 2008. But, thanks to your comments, we've been collecting some suggestions for good spousedom in the 21st century! Like: "Let her win at Guitar Hero sometimes, but not all the time," and "Don't expect a backrub to turn into sex. Just give her a backrub with no agenda once in a while".

But we want to hear more! So post those rules and regulations for proper relationship behavior in the comments now. I'll start: "Do pick the bathmat up off the floor after you've showered, especially when your girlfriend has asked you to do so at least forty times."

How to be a Good Husband [University of Chicago Press]
How to be a Good Wife [University of Chicago Press]

"Do refrain from treating your wife as a...

Jessica — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 18:45:00 EST

"Do refrain from treating your wife as a plaything, endeavouring to wrap her in cotton wool, or sheltering her from every wind that blows. After all she is your co-partner and as such you should allow her to shoulder a certain amount of responsibility. Do take care not to make fun of your wife's little foibles in front of other people. She may join in the joke, and laugh at them herself, but you are asking for a bad ten minutes when your visitors have gone."— From a 1930's guide to marriage, How to be a Good Husband, originally aimed at middle class British couples; now being re-distributed by the University of Chicago Press. [University of Chicago Press]

"Don't confine your acts of courtesy to...

Jessica — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:45:00 EST

"Don't confine your acts of courtesy to your wife's pretty girl friends. Be as ready to see Miss Prudence Dowdy, who is very much of a bore, back to her home as you would the charming Miss Dolly Dimple."— From a 1930's guide to marriage, How to be a Good Husband, now being reprinted. [University of Chicago Press]

"Don't tell your wife terminal inexactitudes,...

Jessica — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 12:45:00 EST

"Don't tell your wife terminal inexactitudes, which are, in plain English, lies. A woman has a wonderful intuition for spotting departures from the truth, and however much she has an aptitude for indulging in them herself, she scorns the male who utters them. Lying to her is a sign of weakness and weakness in a man she regards as a crime."— From a 1930's guide to marriage, How to be a Good Husband, originally aimed at middle class British couples; now being reprinted and redistributed. [University of Chicago Press]