[m741]

Profession is literally 'a paid occupation' and homemakers aren't paid - so homemaking would be an occupation but not a profession. Furthermore, as the parent mentioned, there aren't really unmarried homemakers, except those who are independently wealthy. Someone may be a physicist or nurse and then _become_ a homemaker.

All this isn't to to say that homemaking isn't challenging or exhausting (it can be), just that it doesn't really qualify as a profession. I don't think the parent poster was implying it wasn't difficult, just that it doesn't fit within the framework of professions.

[uremog]

This is exactly why amateur athletes cannot take money for their wins/etc. Because as soon as they do, they are professionals by definition.

[bliti]

Good points. I did not consider it being an occupation and not a profession. Thank you.

[Grishnakh]

Yeah, it's a matter of definitions. A "profession" is something you do that you get paid for. No one sends paychecks to homemakers. An "occupation", however, is something you do to occupy your time (hence the term, "occupation"). Usually, they're one in the same, but not always: if you don't need a paycheck, you can have an occupation as a homemaker, a philanthropist, a volunteer, a socialite, etc.