In this essay Judy Brady dives into the seemingly undesirable disposition of being a wife in a society that didn't allow women to do much of anything when compared to the liberty women have in society today. Judy Brady, formerly known as Judy Syfers at the time of the papers first presentation in August of 1970, introduced a fresh look at the duties of a wife in the 1960's and 1970's outlining these duties in what one can surmise in three basic categories. Brady's main complaints seem to be keenly focused on opportunities in education, lavish friendships, and overall liberty, particularly relief from her motherly duties to enjoy the festivities of life from time to time at least.
The first point I would like to focus on is Brady's wish to get the same educational comforts as a husband or men in general. Brady begins her own story by reminiscing about a certain male friend of hers who is recently divorced and enjoying the new-found freedom. One can draw conclusions about her train of thought after this point, as she is obviously concerned for his ex-wife's well-being knowing all too well about the struggles of womanhood.
Brady was married around the age of twenty-three, thus being hurled into a whirlwind of responsibility that one only adjusts to with time and maturity. No doubt she went on to have children of her own which could have only further illuminated her disparity of being a woman in a man's world. As one reads her story it seems a bit strange that we would find her ranting about educational opportunities having recently finished with a B.F.A in Painting, but she seems to be more outraged at the fact that a husband can so carelessly refrain from his duties as a man and lay all the burden on his mate of whom is already in...
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... equal educational treatment, the gaieties of new-found friendships, and the opportunity of relief from the pressure found in everyday toils that
Ms. Brady and women in general so deeply desired. When we really stop to examine all the things a wife was required to do in relation to the benefits it provided to men, one must honestly ask themselves "who wouldn't want a wife?" (Brady-Syfer 803).
Works Cited
Brady-Syfer, Judy. "I Want a Wife." Barnet, Sylvan and Hugo Bedau. Current Issues and Enduring Questions: A Guide to Critical Thinking and Argument, with Readings. Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2014. 801-803.
Brady-Syfers, Judy. "I Want a Wife." Barnet, Sylvan, et al. Literature for Composition, (Third Edition). HarperCollins Customs Books, 1993. 775-776.
Jochild, Maggie. Feminism Unadulterated: Why I Want Wife. 5 April 2008. 27 February 2014. .
Human beings are not isolated individuals. We do not wander through a landscape of trees and dunes alone, reveling in our own thoughts. Rather, we need relationships with other human beings to give us a sense of support and guidance. We are social beings, who need talk and company almost as much as we need food and sleep. We need others so much, that we have developed a custom that will insure company: marriage. Marriage assures each of us of company and association, even if it is not always positive and helpful. Unfortunately, the great majority of marriages are not paragons of support. Instead, they hold danger and barbs for both members. Only the best marriages improve both partners. So when we look at all three of Janie’s marriages, only her marriage to Teacake shows the support, guidance, and love.
...y, Mary Rowlandson shows that during her time, it was not easy to be a female. Though society intended to protect and shield the female from hardship, Mary had to deal with numerous challenges which she overcame through her faith in God and strong will.
Ethos, logos, and pathos are one of the most important literary strategies to making an effective essay. In the essay “Why I Want a Wife”, Judy Brady focuses most on her use of pathos to try and emotionally connect with her audience. Brady also strategically uses ethos and logos to successfully make a point to the readers of Ms. Magazine that a wife's duties are greatly exceeding what is acceptable. Although Brady uses all three of these strategies, the one that most successfully appeals to her audience is her use of pathos.
Other times, falls back on her basis of emotional appeal with statements such as, “A woman will not understand what true dependency is until she is cradling her own infant in her arms” (752). This is a result of the love and devotion she provides for her two children (Reimer). Crittenden looks to fit the profile for a woman who was the founder of a controversial feminist magazine, Women's Quarterly. She has a college degree and has spent quite a bit of time working in the "man's world". Currently she is a CEO, however the part that doesn't fit is that she is happily married and a mother, who stayed home with her children when they were young. Now Crittenden stresses that marriage is an uplifting, joyous experience: “We have ceased to look down the tunnel, waiting for a train” (753). She acknowledges that those in the past have almost been forced to give up their independence because they married so young, but she counters it with wise words like, “By waiting and waiting and waiting to commit to someone, our capacity for love shrinks and withers” (752). Though it’s a big risk, the good far outweighs the bad, both emotionally and logically. Salvation lies within, eternal happiness is in your grasp…all you have to do is grow up, get married, and have
Throughout history, women conformed to societal expectations of marrying for financial security rather than pursuing a strong emotional relationship. In Zora Neale Hurston’s novel Their Eyes Were Watching God, the protagonist Janie struggles to find her autonomy through the ubiquitous scrutiny from others. While transitioning from adolescence to adulthood, Janie’s internal conflicts in self exploration heighten, forcing her to comply to other’s opinions. Once wedded to Tea Cake does Janie finally comprehend her cause of happiness: love. Through Janie’s maturation, Hurston conveys Janie’s deviation away from monetary stability as a source of happiness, but instead finds fulfillment in ardor, which reveals no amount of material wealth ensures a jubilant life.
...is book expresses her ever-changing life and tough it was on the women of this time period.
Judy Brady’s essay “I Want a Wife” uses a sarcastic tone in order to illuminate the amount of much pressure that is put on wives, not just by their husbands, but by society as well. Brady’s tone voices to the audience that changes need to be made to the role of women.
Throughout history, women have struggled with, and fought against, oppression. They have been held back and weighed down by the sexist ideas of a male dominated society which has controlled cultural, economic and political ideas and structures. During the mid-1800’s to early 1900’s women became more vocal and rebuked sexism and the role that had been defined for them. Fighting with the powerful written word, women sought a voice, equality amongst men and an identity outside of their family. In many literary writings, especially by women, during the mid-1800’s to early 1900’s, we see symbols of oppression and the search for gender equality in society.
"Why are Women Leaving Marriage in Droves?" Marriage. Copyright: 1998. Cyberwoman (30 Jan 1999) http://www.cyberparent.com/women/marriage1.htm
In Judy Brady’s, “I Want A Wife” (1971) sarcasm or a humorous tone is expressed on the topic of what makes a wife. Brady repetitively states, “I want a wife” and begins to list what makes “a wife.” Brady defines a wife as someone who takes care of the children, cleans and cooks, gives up her ti...
to share in his wealth, is undoubtedly in search of a wife. In Pride and
In the 1970s most people had the opinion of the role of a woman is to stay at home and take care of the children and to do the everyday household chores. Only 40% of women during this time were taking part of the work force, the other 60% were staying at home tending to the “ Wifely duties”. During this time the women's rights movement began to start. This movement showed women the expectations and standards most people wanted them to be upholded to, many beleive this is why Judy Brady wrote her article called “ Why I Want a Wife” published in Ms. Magazine in 1972. Judy appeals to us as an audience by using ethos, logos, and pathos.
Throughout literature’s history, female authors have been widely recognized for their groundbreaking and eye-opening accounts of what it means to be a woman in society. In most cases of early literature, women are portrayed as weak and unintelligent characters who rely solely on their male counterparts. Also during this time period, it would be shocking to have women characters in some stories, especially since their purpose is only secondary to that of the male protagonist. But, in the late 17th to early 18th century, a crop of courageous women began publishing their works, beginning the literary feminist movement. Together, Aphra Behn, Charlotte Smith, Fanny Burney, and Mary Wollstonecraft challenge the status quo of what it means to be a woman during the time of the Restoration Era and give authors and essayists of the modern day, such as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a platform to become powerful, influential writers of the future.
While opening her essay, Brady explains her situation as she was ironing one evening. She was reminiscing about a friend of hers who was fresh out of a divorce, who lost his child to his now ex-wife, and was looking for his next wife. Something suddenly occurred to her as a bizarre thought, she wants her own wife! She reverses the societal norm of a man and a woman, and uses that to catch her audience’s attention. Brady published her essay to a premier issue of
...n for himself, since he says that whoever has the most stuff will have her hand in marriage. He tries to make what he is doing seem nice, but it is clear what his intentions are.