The women’s rights movement that took place in the 1970’s was the second wave of feminism that had struck American society. In this movement, women had pushed for equality of men and women in politics, court, education, and at the workplace. Platforms that the movement took place spanned from marches and strikes that expressed their problems directly, to articles in magazines for women that used satire and sarcasm to make their points. One such article in 1972, “Why I Want a Wife,” was showcased in a women’s magazine Ms. Magazine and read by millions of women. Judy Brady, author of the article, used sarcasm and exaggeration to reveal what she wants in a wife to showcase men’s expectations and put men into question for their double standards.
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In this paragraph, she uses repetition to emphasize what the exaggerated and shallow expectations of wives by using the words “I want a wife…” and sarcasm at the end of the paragraph. Brady goes into detail about how she wants a wife that can keep track of everything and also take care of the children and work both at the same time. An example of sarcasm at the end of paragraph three is: “Needless to say, my wife will arrange and pay for the care of the children while my wife is working” (Brady 229). In this sentence specifically, Brady showcases how the wife is expected to do everything for the children and house while also working, and Brady will be obligated do nothing for them but go to …show more content…
This is seen specifically in paragraph 8: “If, by chance, I find another person more suitable as a wife than the wife I already have, I want the liberty to replace my present wife with another one” (Brady 230). This goes along with her long winded list of what she wants out of her wife, and goes along with the feeling like it can all be a checklist of some sort. If a person is found that has more checks in that checklist, then that woman is more suitable as a wife. These paragraphs also establish the thought that the wife should always listen to the husband and do as he expects. She tells of how she wants her wife to quit when the husband has a higher education and a well-paying job, and that a new wife will be expected to simply take care of the children from the old wife without complaint. It then finishes off the article with a question that can be somewhat perceived as a rallying cry for women to fight against these
In this paragraph, she uses repetition to emphasize what the exaggerated and shallow expectations of wives by using the words “I want a wife…” and sarcasm at the end of the paragraph. Brady goes into detail about how she wants a wife that can keep track of everything and also take care of the children and work both at the same time. An example of sarcasm at the end of paragraph three is: “Needless to say, my wife will arrange and pay for the care of the children while my wife is working” (Brady 229). In this sentence specifically, Brady showcases how the wife is expected to do everything for the children and house while also working, and Brady will be obligated do nothing for them but go to …show more content…
This is seen specifically in paragraph 8: “If, by chance, I find another person more suitable as a wife than the wife I already have, I want the liberty to replace my present wife with another one” (Brady 230). This goes along with her long winded list of what she wants out of her wife, and goes along with the feeling like it can all be a checklist of some sort. If a person is found that has more checks in that checklist, then that woman is more suitable as a wife. These paragraphs also establish the thought that the wife should always listen to the husband and do as he expects. She tells of how she wants her wife to quit when the husband has a higher education and a well-paying job, and that a new wife will be expected to simply take care of the children from the old wife without complaint. It then finishes off the article with a question that can be somewhat perceived as a rallying cry for women to fight against these