Sans profession

[Matamoscas]

All the English options for sans profession describing a mother in a birth certificate sound somehow 'unEnglish' and even more negative than unemployed.

My feeling is that in filling out this form in English one would put either student, home duties (or equivalent), unemployed, or the job one does.

Comments welcome

[vanagreg]

Another way in French to say it is "mère au foyer", so why not "housewife"?

[dewsy]

How about the politically correct "homekeeper/maker"?

[Matamoscas]

Many thanks vanagreg. I had not been prepared to assume that by elimination sans profession had to equate to "mère au foyer", as this seems more direct, and I expected one would say so in completing the form...

Thanks again.

Ps if the mother is professionally qualified, but not working in her profession, would she be expected by the authorities to indicate this and use "mère au foyer", or is this too politcally charged, as dewsy indicates? Alas my only experience with such forms is as a père de famille nombreuse for travel concession purposes, where I do not recall the issue arising.

[Micia93]

Originally Posted by Matamoscas

All the English options for sans profession describing a mother in a birth certificate sound somehow 'unEnglish' and even more negative than unemployed.

this is not specific to England you know !
in France, it also sounds negative ...

[vanagreg]

I think what matters is the current situation, so even if she's professionally qualified, she will write down what her situation is.

"Sans profession" is neutral, not necessarily negative. "Mère au foyer" would imply that it's rather a personal choice.

[Micia93]

Originally Posted by vanagreg

I think what matters is the current job, so even if she's professionally qualified, she wil write down what her situation is.

"Sans profession" is neutral, not necessarily negative. "Mère au foyer" would imply that it's rather a personal choice.

Sorry Vanagreg, I don't agree with you
"sans profession" is not neutral, even if unfair since not anyone has the chance to get qualifications in a specific job ...
that's the way how I feel though

[vanagreg]

Well, I believe it's a personal feeling then

I don't find negative the mention of "sans profession" on an administrative paper.

Of course in a conversation or in other circumstances, you may prefer to use terms such as "demandeur d'emploi", "à la recherche d'un emploi".

[jr8202]

I would agree that deducing the meaning of "housewife", though possible, is a bit of a stretch.

The Reverso dictionary gives "unemployed"

http://dictionary.reverso.net/busine...s%20profession

J

[Matamoscas]

Sorry I realise now that I did not thank everyone for their comments.

I ended up opting for Occupation: None.

Thanks again.

[sophievm]

"Occupation: None" seems to be as neutral as the French phrase.

[Topsie]

Originally Posted by Micia93

Sorry Vanagreg, I don't agree with you
"sans profession" is not neutral, even if unfair since not anyone has the chance to get qualifications in a specific job ...
that's the way how I feel though

In the case of housewives, it should be "cent (100) professions" instead of "sans profession"!