What Is a Wife - Essay Example

Running head: WHAT IS A WIFE What is a Wife Insert Insert Affiliation In the 20th century, Brady’s depiction of wives does not portray any of the characteristics that are evident today. Although there are some women that prefer to stay at home and tend to the children and house, they are not portrayed as weak women or those who are bowing down to their husbands. The roles are more equally balanced in present day than in past era’s such back in the time of the 70’s. This is what this paper explores, the variables of how wives are now compared to decades past. It is surprising how times have changed and how the roles of wives have adapted and have become far superior to what they use to be. In today’s society, the role of the wife is the most important of the family as the woman is the primary caregiver of the children and the main one who ensures the family stays organized and intact. All of these are pertinent points that this essay has included in its structure. What is a Wife From a modern day mother and wife’s stand point, the article by Brady is totally off the concept of what a wife’s position in the family is in the 20th century. If the type of mentality towards women and wives in general was implied today as it apparently was back in the 70’s, it would leave many women in an utter outrage because a wife/mothers’ role is far more than waiting on a husbands every need, hand and foot. Brady depicted wives as almost slaves in the article, insinuating women had one sole purpose and that was to cater to a man or husband, if you will. There is no equality found in this piece of literature, and for wives today there is no logical association for women of the 20th century to identify with. Times have definitely changed and it’s obvious that they have been progressing for the better, for women, through the decades. From a feminist perspective, the description of wives in the article is inadequate and although it might hold some what of a historical perception of how wives roles use to be considered, it simply is not a viable assumption now. However, when looking back into the mid 1900’s, the wife’s role was basically one in which it was expected that she would be a homemaker and tend to all the areas that had any type of bearing on caring for the children, schedule keeping, keeping the home in order, and paying considerable consideration to her husband and his needs. Beyond that, there was no expectation for the wife to work outside the hoe since it was the common idea that the husband would be the bread winner, and take care of all the more pertinent aspects of the family life such as: money, transportation, and employment. Yet again, though this was how it was then does not imply that this is the characterization of wives and women now. Feminism has had a strong influential pull in society and has allowed for equality among men and women and this includes how the structure of marriage is portrayed to be as well. There really is no such thing as, ‘a woman’s duty’ any longer as the responsibility is a shared one and the concept of a marriage begins in communication and ends as it being the key factor in developing a strong and mutually respectful bond between a husband and a wife. Brady (2002) makes statements in her article, such as: “I want a wife who will take care of the details of my social life” and “I want a wife who will serve food to me and my friends and not interrupt when I talk about things that interest me and my friends”. These statements, although might have been written to show sympathy and understanding to wives, by Brady, these are still words that come across as characterizing a wife who is willing to serve her husband and his friends unquestioningly and with docile obedience. In present day there are no such women that can be found to exist. Women now play far greater roles than just being subservient to a husband. They have full time careers, choices they make for themselves, their own income, and more than anything else they are self assured of themselves and not afraid to break away from traditional roles to perform in more demanding ones. Even though there are astounding differences from the 70’s to the present day, there remain some women that feel more fulfilled by being at home and taking care of all the more traditional female responsibilities. The term homemaker, as defined by definition is someone whose primary occupation is to care for the family and home (Wikipedia 2005). The reason a percentage of women still feel inclined to keep this role is for a long time now it has been considered that the woman is the one that holds the most crucial of roles in keeping the family running smoothly and kept in order. Some women claim it to be the most rewarding and fulfilling position in life that any wife and mother could ask for. The difference in how this traditional role is now and how it use to be is the fact that if a woman or wife decides to be a stay at home mom or homemaker, it does not mean that she is kept separated from other important family decisions. Today’s wives often have some control if not all over the financial status and quite often are the ones that make sure all the bills get paid and other necessities are taken care of. So, it’s a two way street, a team venture between husband and wife, not just an equation where the man does so and so and the wife does everything else in the home. Also, as was touched upon briefly already, communication is a huge factor in marriages today. Women are equally respected as men and if there is a problem within the home then the husband and wife sit and discuss it together to come up with a good solution so both can be happy and satisfied. It is the same with household chores. No longer is the woman the sole one found in the kitchen cooking or washing dishes and sweeping the floor. The husband helps out as much as he can and even goes so far as cooking and doing laundry, among other chores that use to be consider only something a woman would do. Another thing that has changed as there is now becoming a trend where men are the homemakers while the women are the sole breadwinners. This is because women can now acquire positions in the workforce that equal to or far exceed the salary of the man. Some men might find envy in this but all in all there is not that big of a deal being made out of it. A lot of men have been quoted as saying how happy they are to be able to spend quality time with the kids for a change and to be able to care for the home and prove to their wives that they are just as capable in this area as the wife is. In conclusion, it is amazing how times back in the 70’s are so variant from how they are now. Who would have thought that there would be a man being the home care giver way back in the day or being the one to do the laundry and change the baby’s diaper without giving so much as a funny face? I think it is a remarkable change and one that women have been waiting for, for such a long time now. It is refreshing to know that equality among men and women finally seems to be clear and conceptualized in the world. Mutual respect for one another can work wonders and working together builds a stronger family bond and keeps the love and laughter alive to build memories to pass on to the next generation on how it should be and not how it was. References Brady, Judy (2002) “I Want a Wife” The Bedford Guide for College Writers. Sixth Edition, Ed. X.J. Kennedy. Dorthy Kennedy. Sylvia Holiday. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins “Homemaker” Wikeipedia Encyclopedia. Retrieved 13 January, 2006, from: http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wik/homemaker “I want a Wife” Bookrags Essay Workshop. Retrieved 13 January, 2006, from: http://www.bookrags.com/essays/story/2004/11/29/19554/278 Read More