Rhetorical Analysis Of Why I Want A Wife By Judy Brady

In the 1970’s, about 30 percent of women were actively participating in the labor force, while 94 percent of appropriately aged men worked. Everyone knows that the husbands typically “bring home the bacon”, but the lingering question is what do these women do? These women were wives and “not altogether incidentally,” a majority of them were mothers (Brady 229). Wives are frequently recognized as these women whom cook and clean and take care of the children, and they do. But, in reality they do so much more. In “Why I Want A Wife,” Judy Brady uses ethos to convey all wives do and how many duties are expected of them.

Brady establishes credibility and gains respect from the audience by using ethos. Beginning in paragraph one ethos is established by Brady stating “I am A Wife,” and “I am a mother,”; Brady continues to build more respect by mentioning several common duties expected of wives. To create a sarcastic manner Brady asks the audience a question because although she knows what all a wife does, she wants everyone else be educated: “Why do I want a wife?” (Brady 229). Because Brady is a wife and a mother, other wives and mothers trust what she says throughout the article. They now feel that they can relate to

her when Brady wants a wife who will cook all the meals and be able to trust they will be well prepared for all of her children: “I want a wife who cooks the meals, a wife who is a good cook.” (Brady 229).
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Brady gives numerous examples of personal experiences to prove that she is knowledgeable about being a wife.

All through the article Brady provides rationality on why she wants a wife, while at the same time she is telling the audience everything she has gone through as a wife and a mother. Brady wants a wife whom will tend to her children’s every need and make sure they are achieving their full potential in their adolescence: “I want a wife who is a good nurturant attendant to my children, who arranges for their schooling, makes sure that they have an adequate social life with their peers, takes them to the park, the zoo, ect.” (Brady 229). Brady uses her experiences and knowledge to create an image for the reader’s to understand why she longs for a

wife.
The public has brainwashed men to believe that saying his “I Do’s” is the key to having a women to fulfill all of his needs until death. As wives, women are expected to not only care for themselves, but accept full responsibility for their entire family as well. Brady, using ethos to gain respect and establish credibility, successfully portray her message that wives are overworked and underappreciated.