Opinion of women who work for their husbands?

I am trying to see the view of women who work for their husbands in society. (Let's ignore the personal aspects - i.e. not wanting to work with your spouse)

The reason I ask is that my husband asked me if I would like to work for his company - a solar cell start-up company. He thinks I would be a good person to manage the research projects going on in the company and write/edit research proposals for funding, as well as help manage the finances and HR until his company gets larger. (I also have an advanced degree in a science related field, like him.) I am currently working at a consulting firm, but looking for a new job.

I realize the job he wants me to do is far from trivial or menial, but I just felt insulted when he asked me to work for him. So what is your opinion of these kinds of women? Negative? Positive?

I think your looking at it the wrong way. You shouldn't be insulted at all. He knows the job his new company needs, he feels you'd be best for it. He's also probably trying to get you more involved as a husband and wife team and help build the business together. Making a life together with this business. Not a bad idea at all. If you think about it, it's is also your company too. The saying goes what's yours is his what's his is yours = marriage.
Anyhow, My husband and I work together in our own business and it's incredible. It actually made us closer and our children are involved in our business as well. I think the idea is excellent based on my own personal experiences. Besides, you get more time together, work on projects that are meaningful to your lives.
I say get off this computer and go to the office! As a joke, you could bring in a resume and ask to speak to the owner and hand the owner (your husband) a resume and tell him you could start today! LOL Mine got a kick out of that when I did that. Everyone at the meeting did too.

Tiffany

I personally have no strong feelings either way. You can be just as effective and challenged when working for your husband as you would working for someone else. Or you can have an "easy", flexible, punch-the-clock type of job. It depends on the situation.

There may be a societal stigma that you are taking a job "below" your capability. Many times women that work FOR their husband tend to do more task-oriented, process type of work, not so much in the decision making and business development aspect.

Coincidentally, I WILL be working FOR my husband soon and leaving my high paying professional job for a lesser skilled PT position at my husband's growing company. I love the idea. We have a young family and this will allow me to keep my "head in the game", make a little bit of money, and allow for super-flexibility.

Maybe you should look at it more as working with him, rather than for him...Just a thought...Also, I don't look down on women that work for their husbands, or with them. My Mother worked with/for my Dad for 40+ years. And, I'm not some non-business, non-work oriented person. I am actually the breadwinner in me and my husband's household.

Well if you think you'll be comfortable working with him go for it. But it could be tiresome to be around your husband 24/7 especially if he's yor boss. To have him telling you what to do all the time and having to report to him. Also some men would rub things like that in their wife's face. This could either build your relationship since you'll be seeing more of each other or pull it apart.