# Re the "Brady Bunch" mom- As a full time homemaker why did she need a full time maid? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 13, 2006, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-brady-bunch-mom-as-a-full-time-homemaker-why-did-she-need-a-full-time-maid/372540 "2006-09-13T14:05:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-brady-bunch-mom-as-a-full-time-homemaker-why-did-she-need-a-full-time-maid/372540/41 "2006-09-14T13:12:38Z")
[QUOTE=tdn] If they teamed up, they could pound the living shit out of Mr. Belvedere. Must-see TV. [/QUOTE] Oh, Pay Per View, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-brady-bunch-mom-as-a-full-time-homemaker-why-did-she-need-a-full-time-maid/372540/42 "2006-09-14T13:15:15Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Rosewater] Carol needed a maid because she was so busy with her charity/volunteer/club work. There was the ladies auxiliary, the PTA, that anit-smoking organization… [/QUOTE] You mean in addition to all this kinky sex, Carol was _smoking anit?_ My, she _was_ a wild one. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-brady-bunch-mom-as-a-full-time-homemaker-why-did-she-need-a-full-time-maid/372540/43 "2006-09-14T13:23:18Z")
[QUOTE=Skald the Rhymer] Marsha, Marsha, MARSHA! Jan was much cuter. [/QUOTE] Aaaa_men._ You just knew Marcia was gonna join a la-de-da sorority, marry some deadhead, golf and drink and get too much sun, and be all crow’s feet and crispy skin by 35. Jan was gonna grow her hair to her waist and a set of big ole gazoinks, go to Berkeley and be a totally sweet 70s earth mama. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-brady-bunch-mom-as-a-full-time-homemaker-why-did-she-need-a-full-time-maid/372540/44 "2006-09-14T13:29:19Z")
[QUOTE=Beware of Doug] Aaaa_men._ You just knew Marcia was gonna join a la-de-da sorority, marry some deadhead, golf and drink and get too much sun, and be all crow’s feet and crispy skin by 35. Jan was gonna grow her hair to her waist and a set of big ole gazoinks, go to Berkeley and be a totally sweet 70s earth mama. [/QUOTE] It’s interesting,[in my minds eye all the Bradys are still kids, but in wikiing up Eve PLumb](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eve_Plumb) she’s a few weeks older than I am! ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-brady-bunch-mom-as-a-full-time-homemaker-why-did-she-need-a-full-time-maid/372540/45 "2006-09-14T13:37:56Z")
[QUOTE=Carnac the Magnificent!] Domestic help attired in uniforms is pretty much par for course in affluent homes, though hardly universal. Some employers think it looks more professional and helps the help blend into the background. [/QUOTE] Not only that, it confers status immediately. By that, I mean that no-one will mistake Alice for a family member or one of their social peers. That, to me, is the real reason for the uniform. What creeped me is out is the way Alice (older than the Brady’s) had to call Carol, Mrs Brady and Mike, Mr Brady… :rolleyes: I grew up in a house with 5 kids. When we lived in the south(early 60s), we had a housekeeper. When we moved to IL, we didn’t. I preferred the house with the housekeeper. There is alot of dirt and mess asociated with 5 kids. I have 3 of my own and my housekeeping standards are adequate, but it’s alot of work. I always liked Jan and Alice-the rest of them could be drowned, but those two seemed to be real people. You just knew Jan was going to be cool in HS, not all Ms social queen la-di-da like Marcia. And Cindy needed to be institutionalized. Seriously. Ah, good times… ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-brady-bunch-mom-as-a-full-time-homemaker-why-did-she-need-a-full-time-maid/372540/46 "2006-09-14T13:39:33Z")
[QUOTE=Beware of Doug] Aaaa_men._ You just knew Marcia was gonna join a la-de-da sorority, marry some deadhead, golf and drink and get too much sun, and be all crow’s feet and crispy skin by 35. Jan was gonna grow her hair to her waist and a set of big ole gazoinks, go to Berkeley and be a totally sweet 70s earth mama. [/QUOTE] Have you seen any recent photos of them? Eve is a frumpy middle-aged soccer mom. Maureen is still hot, hot, HOT! ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-brady-bunch-mom-as-a-full-time-homemaker-why-did-she-need-a-full-time-maid/372540/47 "2006-09-14T13:41:12Z")
[QUOTE=eleanorigby] And Cindy needed to be institutionalized. [/QUOTE] “Oh Carol. Send Cindy to a special school.” ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-brady-bunch-mom-as-a-full-time-homemaker-why-did-she-need-a-full-time-maid/372540/48 "2006-09-14T13:41:32Z")
Oops. ---
**Author:** ![Reloy3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c68b51/32.png) [@Reloy3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reloy3)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-brady-bunch-mom-as-a-full-time-homemaker-why-did-she-need-a-full-time-maid/372540/49 "2006-09-14T16:26:25Z")
[QUOTE=tdn] Have you seen any recent photos of them? Eve is a frumpy middle-aged soccer mom. Maureen is still hot, hot, HOT! [/QUOTE] No Way, Eve is still hotter than Maureen (who has aged well). If you love Eve Plumb, check out the movie **And God Spoke** where she plays Noah’s Wife. She steals the show. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Punkyova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@The\_Punkyova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Punkyova)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-brady-bunch-mom-as-a-full-time-homemaker-why-did-she-need-a-full-time-maid/372540/50 "2006-09-14T16:37:07Z")
[QUOTE=eleanorigby] Not only that, it confers status immediately. By that, I mean that no-one will mistake Alice for a family member or one of their social peers. That, to me, is the real reason for the uniform. [/quote] Right. It works both ways, as well. Sandra Tsing Loh has an interesting article that talks about this (I think it was in last month’s Atlantic). She made the point that having a uniform means the staff person is never dressed inappropriately, and how important it is that appropriate boundaries (family/employee) are respected. > [@](#): > > What creeped me is out is the way Alice (older than the Brady’s) had to call Carol, Mrs Brady and Mike, Mr Brady… :rolleyes: I think this is more the employee-not-friend issue, and I find it appropriate. While calling the employee by the first name is common, I would have preferred it if the Brady family (adults and children) had called her Miss Smith (or whatever, I don’t remember her surname). ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-brady-bunch-mom-as-a-full-time-homemaker-why-did-she-need-a-full-time-maid/372540/51 "2006-09-14T17:18:20Z")
[QUOTE=Reloy3] No Way, Eve is still hotter than Maureen (who has aged well). If you love Eve Plumb, check out the movie **And God Spoke** where she plays Noah’s Wife. She steals the show. [/QUOTE] “It’s always “Sedeqetelebab! Sedeqetelebab! Sedeqetelebab!”” ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-brady-bunch-mom-as-a-full-time-homemaker-why-did-she-need-a-full-time-maid/372540/52 "2006-09-14T19:01:32Z")
[QUOTE=The Punkyova] I think this is more the employee-not-friend issue, and I find it appropriate. While calling the employee by the first name is common, I would have preferred it if the Brady family (adults and children) had called her Miss Smith (or whatever, I don’t remember her surname). [/QUOTE] Nelson. ---
**Author:** ![Caridwen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@Caridwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caridwen)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-brady-bunch-mom-as-a-full-time-homemaker-why-did-she-need-a-full-time-maid/372540/53 "2006-09-14T19:23:43Z")
[QUOTE=Ellen Cherry] Well, people with money often have maids, you know. I know a woman, raising children in the '50s who was a stay-at-home mom, married to a doctor. She had a full-time maid. But I’d say that it’s because in Television World, SIX CHILDREN (my God!) would be way to much for one single woman to handle. There’s JUST NO WAY. We have to have a maid! Or: Television = no resemblence to reality. [/QUOTE] You have to remember the era. Things were a lot more work then. Hell, there was no permenant press and women had to iron EVERYTHING. Lots of people didn’t own dryers so it was practically a full time job to do laundry. No fast food or even convenience food. No microwave to pop anything into. Nothing was exactly quick. My mother and lots of my my friends parents had help. I think they were referred to as ‘mother’s helpers’ and not maids though. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-brady-bunch-mom-as-a-full-time-homemaker-why-did-she-need-a-full-time-maid/372540/54 "2006-09-14T19:41:33Z")
[QUOTE=Caridwen] You have to remember the era. Things were a lot more work then. Hell, there was no permenant press and women had to iron EVERYTHING. Lots of people didn’t own dryers so it was practically a full time job to do laundry. No fast food or even convenience food. No microwave to pop anything into. Nothing was exactly quick. My mother and lots of my my friends parents had help. I think they were referred to as ‘mother’s helpers’ and not maids though. [/QUOTE] McDonald’s and White Castles were already around, but I would agree they were more treats than dinner substitutes. Also ordering pizza or Chinese was already common. There was a lot of ironing. I think the Brady’s had a dryer though. My mom managed to handle 4 kids as a stay at home and iron my Dad’s shirts without the need for a Mother’s Helper. Of course we all had chores and we could not have afforded a maid anyway. Our house was ridiculously spotless. Jim ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-brady-bunch-mom-as-a-full-time-homemaker-why-did-she-need-a-full-time-maid/372540/55 "2006-09-14T19:45:29Z")
I thought a Mother’s Helper was a little blue pill… ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-brady-bunch-mom-as-a-full-time-homemaker-why-did-she-need-a-full-time-maid/372540/56 "2006-09-14T19:56:00Z")
Yep-me too. Or a pre-pubescent girl who plays with the kids (usually babies) while Mom is home doing other stuff. A precursor to babysitting for some. Did they need a maid or housekeeper? Who knows? Certainly that house never looked like anyone lived in it, never mind 6 kids, 3 adults and a dog. But some folks like the “No-one Lives Here, But Good Housekeeping Might Stop By For A Photo Shoot” look. And they had permanent press–I was between Cindy and Jan in age (I think) and we had perma-press clothes. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-brady-bunch-mom-as-a-full-time-homemaker-why-did-she-need-a-full-time-maid/372540/57 "2006-09-14T20:01:33Z")
[QUOTE=Reloy3] No Way, Eve is still hotter than Maureen (who has aged well). If you love Eve Plumb, check out the movie **And God Spoke** where she plays Noah’s Wife. She steals the show. [/QUOTE] That was in 1993. It is currently 2006. She’s changed. A lot. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Rosewater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/898d66/32.png) [@Mr.Rosewater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Rosewater)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-brady-bunch-mom-as-a-full-time-homemaker-why-did-she-need-a-full-time-maid/372540/58 "2006-09-14T20:30:30Z")
[QUOTE=kaylasdad99] I thought a Mother’s Helper was a little blue pill… [/QUOTE] Yellow. ([lyrics](http://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/the_rolling_stones/mothers_little_helper.html)) ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-brady-bunch-mom-as-a-full-time-homemaker-why-did-she-need-a-full-time-maid/372540/59 "2006-09-14T21:12:13Z")
[QUOTE=tdn] That was in 1993. It is currently 2006. She’s changed. A lot. [/QUOTE] [She’s not so bad](http://www.capecodchronicle.com/features/feature_081706.htm) Pic from last month. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-brady-bunch-mom-as-a-full-time-homemaker-why-did-she-need-a-full-time-maid/372540/60 "2006-09-14T21:21:01Z")
We could have put bets down as to how long it would take this thread to degenerate into a “who’s hotter, Jan or Marsha” discussion. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-brady-bunch-mom-as-a-full-time-homemaker-why-did-she-need-a-full-time-maid/372540.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-brady-bunch-mom-as-a-full-time-homemaker-why-did-she-need-a-full-time-maid/372540.md?page=4)