I Want a Wife by Judy Brady

Christina Cespedes Cespedes1
Professor Wilfert
English 101
25 February 2013 “I Want a Wife” By: Judy Brady Judy Brady is a freelance writer, writing topics mainly relating to the roles of women in society. Judy wrote the piece I Want a Wife right after the second wave of the feminist movement in the United States. The purpose of the movement was to have the right to vote and have the same equal rights as male citizens. Judy’s essay appeared in MS. Magazine in 1971. She used feminist humor to persuade her readers to look objectively at a man’s expectations of what a wife is and should be. Brady’s intended audience was women and men of that time period. Not only does she write to married couples, but people in general. I believe she is trying to get out to the public that these stereotypes of roles for women are wrong and should end! Judy writes in her article about the many demands of being a wife. According to Judy, a wife is also a worker, homemaker, mother, provider, and a sexual partner. She stresses that the roles of women are unfair to the roles of men. And she illustrates this by telling you all the roles. I want a wife who will cook, clean, take care of the children, and my sexual needs all while providing for our family so I can selfishly pursue my dreams (442). She is stirring up emotions for the reader in hopes that this will persuade you to take action. She is clearly telling women to stop and think about their life. You don’t have to act this way, it clearly isn’t fair and needs to stop! Cespedes2
Judy wants people to get angry and take a stand; I believe those are her intentions when writing such an emotional piece. Her argument is clear and to the point. She uses the quote “I belong to the classification of people know as wives. I am a wife, not altogether incidentally I am a mother” (441). She uses this to show readers that she is creditable and has knowledge in this subject. She is an activist and has experience in knowing the roles herself which create a strong piece for her argument. I believe she is also telling women, its okay to be a wife, but take a look at your life and make sure your husband isn’t demanding and expecting too much from you as his wife. She ends her argument with a very emotional statement “My god, who wouldn’t want a wife” (443). The article is really inspiring and gets you thinking. Women have so many roles and are overlooked in so many ways, or just expected to do act this way because of society. I am very thankful for Judy Brady being such a strong activist for us. I am also a wife and mother and it’s great to be living in a time where I am seen equally in our relationship. There are no gender related roles in our marriage; we chip in equally where it is needed. So for me Judy’s simple words are extremely effective in changing many opinions of what a wife should be.