Judy Brady's Short Essay 'Why I Want A Wife'

Equality of Men and Women American women in society were expected to follow one path for decades, a path to get married in an early age, quickly start a family, and devote their lives to home making. Judy Brady, in her 1972 classic short essay “Why I Want A Wife,” clarifies some of the common stereotypes that a typical married woman had to face in the 1970s: “I want a wife who will take care of my physical needs. I want a wife who will keep my house clean” (1). She argues that women are nearly powerless when it comes to making their own decisions and following their own dreams. Because women were not treated fairly and ethically, eventually the women’s movement arose to help women gain respect, whether in their family life or workplace. Feminists have been working hard to improve the women’s social, political, and economic issues, one step at a time. However, it raises a question about how successful the women’s movement may be nowadays. Were they able to gain equal …show more content…
In her article, she makes a list of all the reasons to why she wants a wife: “I would like to go back to school so that I can become economically independent, support myself, and, if need be, support those dependent upon me. I want a wife who will work and send me to school” (1). She states that she wants a wife that would work for her so she can go back to school and find a better job. It shows that to be a wife in 1970s means to follow their orders all day just like a slave. Although Brady’s point was valid in 1972, it is also important to recognize that in the twenty-first century society’s view of women’s role in general, has changed for better. Jack Myers in his book “The Future of Men,” argues that: “The shift toward female power is far more pervasive than we realize and that male dominance is quickly fading” (1). According to