Why I Want a Wifeby

Judy Brady

Cross-Cultural Communications

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Judy Brady

• Judy Brady (1937- ) was born in San Francisco and earned a B.F.A. from the University of Iowa in 1962. Brady's a feminist, a political and environmental activist—especially having to do with cancer-related issues, and a freelance writer. She's edited both Women and Cancer (1990) and One in Three: Women with Cancer Confront an Epidemic (1991). Brady's work has also appeared in periodicals such as Greenpeace Magazine and The Women's Review of Books. Her classic satirical essay "Why I Want a Wife" was first published in the first issue of Ms. Magazine in 1972 and reprinted as "Why I [Still] Want a Wife" in Ms. in 1990.

• (Editors Note: This classic piece of feminist humor appeared in the premier issue of Ms. Magazine and was widely circulated in the women's movement.) 

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¶1

• I belong to that classification of people known as wives. I am A Wife. And, not altogether incidentally, I am a mother.

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¶2

• 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 looking for another wife. As I thought about him while I was ironing one evening, it suddenly occurred to me that I too, would like to have a wife. Why do I want a wife?

¶3-1• I would like to go back to scho

ol so that I can become economically independent, support myself, and if need be, support those dependent upon me. I want a wife who will work and send me to school. And while I am going to school I want a wife to take care of my children.

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¶3-2• And while I am going to

school I want a wife to take care of my children. I want a wife a wife to keep track of the children's doctor and dentist appointments. And to keep track of mine, too.

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¶3-3• I want a wife to make sure my children eat

properly and are kept clean. I want a wife who will wash the children's clothes and keep them mended.

¶3-4

• I want a wife who is a good nurturing 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, etc.

¶3-5• I want a wife who takes care of the childre

n when they are sick, a wife who arranges to be around when the children need special care, because, of course, I cannot miss classes at school.

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¶3-6• My wife must arrange to lo

se time at work and not lose the job. It may mean a small cut in my wife's income from time to time, but I guess I can tolerate that. Needless to say,  my wife will arrange and pay for the care of the children while my wife is working.

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¶4-1• I want a wife who will take car

e of my physical needs. I want a wife who will keep my house clean. A wife who will pick up after my children, a wife who will pick up after me. 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 in their proper place so that I can find what I need the minute I need it.

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¶4-2• I want a wife who cooks the meals, a wife who is a good cook. I want a wife who will plan the menus, do the necessary grocery shopping, prepare the meals, serve them pleasantly, and then do the cleaning up while I do my studying. I want a wife who will care for me when I am sick and sympathize with my pain and loss of time from school.

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¶4-3• I want a wife to go along when our family takes a vacation so that someone can continue care for me and my when I need a rest and change of scene.

¶5• I want a wife who will not bother me with r

ambling complaints about a wife's duties. But I want a wife who will listen to me when I feel the need to explain a rather difficult point I have come across in my course of studies. And I want a wife who will type my papers for me when I have written them.

¶6-1

• I want a wife who will take care of the details of my social life. When my wife and I are invited out by my friends, I want a wife who take care of the baby-sitting arrangements. When I meet people at school that I like and want to entertain, 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 when I talk about things that interest me and my friends.

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¶6-2• I want a wife who will have arranged that the chil

dren are fed and ready for bed before my guests arrive so that the children do not bother us. I want a wife who takes care of the needs of my quests so that they feel comfortable, who makes sure that they have an ashtray, that they are passed the hors d'oeuvres, that they are offered a second helping of the food, that their wine glasses are replenished when necessary, that their coffee is served to them as they like it. And I want a wife who knows that sometimes I need a night out by myself.

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¶7-1• I want a wife who is sensitive to my sexual needs, a wife who makes love passionately and eagerly when I feel like it, a wife who makes sure that I am satisfied. And, of course, I want a wife who will not demand sexual attention when I am not in the mood for it. I want a wife who assumes the complete responsibility for birth control, because I do not want more children.

¶7-2• I want a wife who will remain sexually faithful to me so that I do not have to clutter up my intellectual life with jealousies. And I want a wife who understands that my sexual needs may entail more than strict adherence to monogamy. I must, after all, be able to relate to people as fully as possible.

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¶8• If, by chance, I find another person more suitable as a wife than the wife I already have, I want the liberty to replace my present wife with another one. Naturally, I will expect a fresh, new life; my wife will take the children and be solely responsible for them so that I am left free.

¶9• When I am through with

school and have a job, I want my wife to quit working and remain at home so that my wife can more fully and completely take care of a wife's duties.

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¶10• My God, who wouldn't want a wife?

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QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSIONCONTENT

• What is the main subject of the second paragraph?

• How does the author describe a wife's role regarding sexual needs?

• How are household chores broken down in this essay? Generalize them, and then give examples.

• According to Brady, what are a wife's social duties?

• What does this essay say, and imply, about divorce? How do the sex roles presented define divorce?

Engaging the text

• Do you want a wife? Explain. How might you relate your feelings about this topic to your reading?

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• Does this essay suggest that marriage is a defunct institution?

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• describe the supposed role of a husband

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• Describe why marriage is right or wrong for you now or at any time

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