Judy Syfers's Why I Want A Wife

The idea that women should refrain from playing any significant role that goes beyond the societal expectations is dismissed by the author, and replaced with the idea that a wife is a valuable piece for a functioning family. Although Judy Syfers, “Why I Want a Wife”, essay portrays misogynistic views towards the roles of women within a marriage, her inclusion of stylistic elements provides the reader with an idea that a wife is more important for the survival of the family than any other aspect. Within “Why I Want a Wife”, Judy Syfers effectively uses specifically positioned asterisks on words that appear to be insignificant and repeated parallel phrases throughout the paragraphs to emphasize her perspective regarding the importance of a wife in a family and marriage.
Women are shown to have a significant impact within the family structure, as well as,
From the beginning of the essay, the phrase “I want a wife who” is continuously repeated throughout each paragraph. Having this line repeatedly placed within almost of the paragraphs shows the multitude of tasks the wife must complete because it is deemed the “wife’s duties”. The wife should be the one who will “keep my house clean” or “care for me when I am sick”. The constant use of this phrase not only emphasizes the dependence of the husband towards the wife, but highlights all of the aspects of the family’s life the wife is involved in. Included after every insertion of “I want a wife who” is a task that fits within the husband’s multi ranged needs. The husband needs a wife “who will work and send me to school” and “who takes care of the needs of my guests,” while still having the responsibility of taking care of the children and the rest of the household chores. Through the parallel structures, the reader is able to identify important elements the wife provides for the entire