I Dont Want a Husband by Judy Brady - Article Example

Obviously she has some problems with her husband that instead of looking for a male counterpart in the same way that his divorced male friend is looking for a new wife, she opts for a wife, not that she is a lesbian. She says, "I would like to go back to school so that I can become economically independent, support myself, and if need be, support those dependent." Here she says she needs someone to replace her so she would have time for education, one which is derived from some women in selected countries dating years back.

Probably the speaker is tired and bored with all the household tasks and wants to reward herself and focus on herself this time. Saying that, "I want a wife who will keep my clothes clean, ironed, mended, replaced when need be, and who will see to it that my personal things are kept on their proper place so that I can find what I need the minute I need it," in this case is just the same as saying that she needs a house help. What exactly is what she does not like. She has been through the qualifications she has been mentioning but says them in a sarcastic way because she no longer wants to live through it.

She rants about the non-stop duties of a wife. This explains the mocking remark, "I want a wife who will not bother me with rambling complaints about a wife's duties." This is why she looks for a wife, someone who could take over the responsibilities imposed on her. The lines "I want a wife who takes the need of my guests so that they feel comfortable, who makes sure that they have an ashtray" and "I want a wife who will not demand sexual attention when I am not in the mood for it" are just among the demands of her husband that she could not stand anymore.

She says it with mockery by listing down the specific and impossible qualifications of a wife. The qualities of a wife she is looking for has hidden meanings. All the good things that she seeks are the opposite of her husband and all the ideal but impossible qualifications of her description of a wife are signs that she wants to end stereotyping. Society dictates that this and only that are a woman's role, kept in the house, doing all the chores and all that, a sign that some woman is regarded low in society.

This article is an eye-opener that a wife's role is not that easy and at the same time lets readers realize that women have other rights, to education for one. The author's objective is to stop gender stereotyping and to destroy the norms and rules coerced in society, especially on women. The last line, "My God, who wouldn't want a woman" has a deep meaning itself in that it tries to say that mothers, wives, and women are important not one man can live without them. It is also a sarcastic way of saying that women should be treated equally and be given enough importance.

It could also mean that men have become so much dependent on women.