Judy Brady’s Legendary Feminist Satire, “I Would Like a Wife”

Among the best-remembered pieces through the premiere problem of Ms. mag is “I would like a Wife.” Judy Brady’s (then Judy Syfers) tongue-in-cheek essay explained in one single web web page just just what all too many men had assumed about “housewives.”

Exactly What Does a Wife Do?

“i would like a Wife” had been a piece that is humorous also made a critical point: women that played the role of “wife” did many helpful things for husbands and often kids without anybody realizing. Also less, it absolutely wasn’t recognized that these “wife’s tasks” might have been carried out by somebody who wasn’t a wife, such as for instance a person.

“i would like a spouse that will care for my needs that are physical. I would like a spouse that will keep the house clean. a spouse that will get after my kids, a spouse that will grab after me personally.”

The specified wife tasks included:

• Strive to help us therefore I can return to college
• Manage the kids, including feeding them and nurturing them, maintaining them clean, caring for their garments, taking good care of their education and life that is social
• Record dentist and doctor appointments
• Keep my house neat and get after me
• See to it that my individual things are where I’m able to locate them once I need them
• Care for the arrangements that are babysitting
• Be responsive to my needs that are sexual
• But don’t need attention whenever I have always been maybe perhaps maybe not into the mood
• Never bother me personally with complaints in regards to a wife’s duties

The essay fleshed away these duties and detailed other people. The purpose, needless to say, had been that housewives had been anticipated to do each one of these things, but nobody ever expected a guy to manage to these tasks. The underlying question regarding the essay was “Why?”

Striking Satire

During the time, “I Want a Wife” had the effect that is humorous of your reader because a lady ended up being the main one requesting a spouse. Years before gay wedding became a commonly talked about topic, there clearly was just one individual who possessed mail order wife a wife: a privileged male spouse. But, once the essay famously concluded, “who wouldn’t require a spouse?”

Judy Brady ended up being influenced to create her famous piece at a consciousness-raising session that is feminist. She had been complaining in regards to the problem an individual said, “Why don’t you come up with it?” She went house and did therefore, doing the essay within a hours that are few.

Before it had been printed in Ms., “I Want a Wife” was initially delivered aloud in san francisco bay area on Aug 26, 1970. Judy (Syfers) Brady browse the piece at a rally celebrating the 50 th anniversary of women’s straight to vote within the U.S., obtained in 1920. The rally stuffed a massive audience into Union Square; hecklers stood nearby the phase as “we require a Wife” had been look over.

Lasting Popularity

The essay has become legendary in feminist circles since“I Want a Wife” appeared in Ms. In 1990, Ms. reprinted the piece. It’s still discussed and read in women’s studies classes and mentioned in blog sites and press. It is utilized as one example of satire and humor within the feminist motion.

Judy Brady later on became involved with other justice that is social, crediting her amount of time in the feminist motion with being foundational for her subsequent work.

Echoes of history: The Supportive Role of spouses

Judy Brady will not mention once you understand an essay by Anna Garlin Spencer from much earlier in the day within the twentieth century, and may also n’t have known it, but this echo through the alleged very first revolution of feminism reveals that the tips in “we would like a Wife” had been into the minds of other women, too,

In “The Drama of this Woman Genius” (gathered in female’s Share in Social society), Spencer addresses ladies’ chances for achievement the supportive part that spouses had played for a lot of famous males, and exactly how numerous famous ladies, including Harriet Beecher Stowe, had the duty for childcare and housekeeping along with writing or other work. Spencer writes, “A successful girl preacher had been as soon as expected what unique obstacles perhaps you have met as a lady when you look at the ministry? Not merely one, she replied, except having less a minister’s spouse.”

Edited along with additional content by Jone Johnson Lewis