Harsh Responsibilities of a Wife

Dwamena Paddy.                                                                                                  Date: 09/21/2015

Prof. Hamilton.                                                                                                     Draft 2, Paper 1

ENG 10.

“Harsh Responsibilities of a Wife”

         In Judy Brady’s essay,” I Want a Wife” she states the realistic responsibilities of a typical wife in the 1970’s. Some of the responsibilities she listed in the essay includes: cleaning, cooking, child caring, grocery shopping and keeping appointments in the house. Brady also expresses that in her experience, women were supposed to do most of the work without complaint or gratitude. Since women or wives were expected by the society to do most of the responsibilities than men in a marriage or family, women were less valued, considered replaceable and seen powerless in the eyes of their husbands or men.

         Wives were less respected by their husbands. Brady writes about how a man prefers a woman to take on every single responsibility within the household in order to please all of the man’s needs and wants. For example Brady says, "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"(Para 2, Pg.1). This opinion mentioned in the essay gives the impression to believe that a man does not value a woman as a person but only as a permanent child-bearing, housekeeper and a caregiver. Furthermore, Brady also indicated in the essay how a wife's duty should change once the husband's schooling is complete. For example, "When I am through with school and have a job, I want a wife to quit working and remain at home so that my wife can more fully and completely take care of a wife's duties" (Para 8, Pg.2). This also proves that a woman's job and individuality wasn’t appreciated at all no matter how much hard they try.

         Men viewed women or wives as replaceable in a marriage. Brady also wrote in the essay how a wife is substituted when a man brings in a new wife who will be appropriate to satisfy the needs and wants of the man. For example Brady mentioned that, "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 expect a fresh new life; my wife will take the children and solely responsible for them so that I am left free" (Para.7, Pg.2). This gives the impression that wives were considered replaceable in the eyes of their husbands. They were respected not just a person but a tool which can be replaced at any time.

         Wives had no authority in a marriage. In the essay, Brady states that wives were completely dominated by their husbands. For example “I want a wife who will not bother me with rambling 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” (Para.4, Pg.2). According to the interpretation of this point, the wife is the one that does everything and the husband does nothing but expect respects and cooperation from her which indicates a sign of supremacy. Another example, “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”(Para.6, Pg.2).  And “I want a wife who will assume the responsibility for birth control, because I do not want more children (Para.6, Pg.2). In this point, the man only cares for his own sexual desires, and expects her wife to take care of the rest which also shows a sign of dominants.