Judy Brady’s piece was an exceptional illustration of gender inequalities that were rampant in the 1970s when this was first published, and are still unfortunately relevant in society today. Throughout the writing Judy Brady details the duties of a “proper wife,” a person that understands the need for personal time, that accepts a partner that isn’t necessarily monogamous, and of course a person who will cook, clean, shop for groceries, and care for the children.
The author’s use of satire aptly depicts her intense disgust for the stereotyping of women and wives in the society she lived in. They were responsible not only for maintaining the house and caring for the children, but sacrificing their own dreams and happiness to always put the husband first, a concept that applies even to the couple’s sexual relationship. There is no equality between a husband and wife, and I believe that was Brady’s point.
When two people enter into a marriage, in a perfect world everything would be identical: housework, financials, childcare, and anything else that came along would be divided equally between the two people. That is a juvenile ambition: nothing in life is equal, so in some places a wife gives more than she takes, as does the husband, so while every single task isn’t necessarily equal, both parties are satisfied.
But even that is more or less an ideal concept. Women for centuries have taken care of the house, and though we live in a more accepting, feministic society, little girls still play with baby dolls and kitchen sets when they are young. There is a mindset seemingly ingrained in our DNA stating that women belong in the house and men belong in the workplace. That is rapidly changing, but there are men around today that view women as lesser citizens simply because of their gender.
In her writing, Judy Brady shines a light on how utterly ridiculous it is for a man to expect a woman to do so many things. Of course everything won’t be equal, and it is rare when both parties are satisfied with the amount of work the other person does. Judy Brady simply suggests a metaphorical walk in the other person’s shoes: see what their lives are like before passing judgments and criticisms.
Brady’s piece illustrates a lack of respect, and that is a component missing in many marriages today. When this article was published it related overall to the plight of homemaking women in the mid-1900s, but reading it now is different. It is overall a story about taking a person for granted, and that happens in relationships today, especially when both parties work full-time. Therefore, Brady’s message that there isn’t any equality in a marriage is changing, albeit slower in some areas than in others. The phrase, “Who wouldn’t want a wife?” ends the piece, and essentially what the author is suggesting is the need for partnership in a marriage, something that was clearly lacking throughout the rest of the story.
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