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Are housewives happier?

Call 08459 811111, email julia@bbc.co.uk or text 81333 (start your message with KENT).

Are housewives happier?

Would you work if you didn't have to?

Parts of Kent and Surrey are housewife hotspots. More than half the women in Gravesend, Cobham, Northfleet, Sittingbourne, Faversham and Sheppey do not go out to work. The figures are from a home entertainment company.

In and around Oxted in Surrey the figure goes up to 64%. Nationally the ONS says only 30% of married mums stay at home. There are now 5.3 million working Mums in Britain.

It is one of the biggest decisions any woman and some men have to make.

Do you go back to work after you start a family.

If you are a housewife what was that choice about. Do you have a high earning husband - did he pressure you into staying at home - or was it your choice - were you delighted to be able to give up your job?

Would you love to work but it does not make financial sense? Does the cost of childcare outweigh what you can earn.

Do you simply feel that whatever the finances you need to look after your husband and your children?

A few weeks ago Cherie Blair had a go at stay at home Mums saying they lack independence. She said Mums who go out to work set a better example for their children. Is she right?

Also, when Nicola Adams first put on boxing gloves at her local gym as a tiny schoolgirl of 12, bouts between two women were banned by the British Boxing Board of Control. The reason? They were too unstable - on account of their menstrual cycles, and besides no one wanted to see a 'pretty girl get hit'.

Yesterday, 17 years later, Adams finally gave her response in the ring, defeating the Chinese world champion to become the first woman ever to claim an Olympic gold medal in boxing.

Britain may be getting accustomed to gorging on medals, but the country's 24th gold, courtesy of Adams, is more significant than most.

We speak to former Women's International Boxing Federation British lightweight champion, Jamie Johnson.

We hear your views and stories.

3 hours

Broadcast

  • Fri 10 Aug 2012 09:00