I Want A Wife

Domestic homemakers are the under-appreciated glue of the average household. Despite the fact that they were held to higher expectations in regards to their duties around the house, as a mother as well and as a wife, the value of a wife is unequal to that of a husband; no matter how many of their duties outweigh those of their significant other. Or so author Judy Brady believes. Brady addresses marital inequality in her 1970’s article “I want a wife” by approaching the subject from the perspective of a 1970’s bachelor.
Upon first glance of the article, something that stands out is the amount of “I want” and “I need” used in Brady’s writing. The use of these terms can help identify the tone she is setting for this article.
Now Brady is not outright saying that there is a glaring inequality present in households. In fact, the way she sets up the “I wants/needs” almost makes it appear as if she is promoting this dynamic. However, when taking a closer look, you can observe that the over the use of these terms serves as a way to draw attention to the astounding amount of expectations and duties the average housewife had to meet and achieve on a daily basis. This ironic twist of looking at things from the opposite perspective helps Brady establish a tone of subtle disdain and sarcasm for the topic.
In the first paragraph the line “As I thought about him while I was Ironing one evening..” is strategically placed at the beginning of the article. The purpose of the sentence is to draw the attention of the housewives who can relate to such an activity. Then by using the perspective of a bachelor looking for the ‘right lady,’ she captures the attention of the men of the time. By using views or even activities that her audience can relate to, Brady can persuade the audience to critique this apparent marital inequality without openly stating