The Role Of Women In Judy Brady's I Want A Wife

In her classic essay first published in feminist magazine Ms., “I Want a Wife” Judy Brady declares the role of women in the 1970’s as viewed from a man’s point of view. This essay by Judy Brady is written from a feminist point of view portraying how men perceive women in their minds and how life is difficult as a wife:

“…while I was ironing one evening, it suddenly occurred to me that I, would like to have a wife. Why do I want a wife? (Brady)”

By presenting that Judy is revealing how being a woman is an exhausting experience and how she has a desire to have a wife. As Judy’s article progresses, she reversed her role to a husband as she continues to write from first-person point of view. Judy Brady’s satirical tone of expression exhibits the

“Not too long ago a male friend of mine appeared on the scene fresh from a recent divorce. He had one child, who is, of course, with his ex-wife. He is look- ing for another wife (Brady),” which led Judy to reveal the treatment and roles of women defined by men. The male friend of Brady is looking for a wife despite the child that he had is with his ex-wife. This proves that not only children are dependent on women, but men are too because of their selfish reasons to get food, a clean house, kids, and other physical needs from their wife. As Brady states that, “I want a wife who will not bother me with rambling complains about a wife’s duties,” (Brady) it proves that men’s expectation are so high, because of their selfish character who tends to eliminate the concerns of a wife. As a

The repetition of the phrase “I want a wife” in the essay reveals the desire of a man to have a wife because of the duties that they fulfill. This phrase highlights the importance of the duties such as cooking, having children, cleaning, and other domestic work and how a wife must complete all of them. The repetition of the word “I” is describing men as egocentric in which they are worried about themselves rather than their wife. The author sets a sarcastic tone in which she demands to have a wife, where in reality she is tired of being a wife herself. The incorporation of rhetorical questions such as, “Why do I want a wife?” (Brady) stated at the end of the first paragraph and “My God, who wouldn’t want a wife?” (Brady) helps create a sense of humor after describing and listing all the duties that women have to fulfill. The title “I Want a Wife” is an irony itself because it makes the reader feel that the author is a male since he is looking for a wife where in reality it is a wife whom is releasing her experience as a woman. Judy’s use of hyperbole makes it clear of unfairness that women continue to face. As Brady states, “I want a wife who will have the house clean, will prepare a special meal, serve it to me and my friends, and not interrupt…” (Brady) establishes how a wife is responsible for all the events that occur in a man’s life such as friends coming home, but is not