Analysis Of ' Why I Am Still ' Want A Wife ' By Judy Brady

In an essay by Judy Brady titled “I Want a Wife”, Brady discusses the typical gender dynamics of her time period (the 1970s) and challenges them. She essentially says that women are treated like they are inferior to men and so she says that she wishes or wants someone to fulfill her duties for her just like she does for her husband. This essay shows the struggle to gain equality in this time period and also represents the thoughts that a woman in this time period might have. Not only is the meaning behind this essay significant, but the way in which Brady presents it is also significant and it amplifies and strengthens the argument. This is proven by textual evidence found in the essay itself.

Throughout this article Brady uses ethos, logos, and pathos to illustrate her opinion that the wife does too much in a family. Brady connects with her audience by relating to what was expected of them back in the 1970’s. She states reasons to why she wants a wife and lists what she says a wife would do for her. Lastly, Brady connects emotionally to her audience by

In Judy (Syfers) Brady’s article, “I Want a Wife”, she expresses her opinions in a satirical commentary that offers hypothetical criteria for an ideal wife, with an underlying message that deals with how people should be grateful for all of the deeds and chores that women do. Brady utilizes the strategy of

In her essay, “Why I Want a Wife,” Judy Syfers defines what it means to be a good “Wife.” Becoming a wife entails much more than wearing a ring and taking on a different last name. According to Syfers, society expects a wife to be a homemaker, raise the children, and ensure that her husband is pleased to the best of her abilities. She strengthens her argument by use of the rhetorical devices, such as anaphora, hyperbole, and a satirical tone, in order to emphasize the double standards which women were required to meet at the time.

Throughout the essay Brady uses satire to highlight the lack of logic in the expectations placed on a wife during a time when women are beginning to work as well as care for the home. She uses the example that a wife should not bother her spouse with “rambling complaints” about her duties but that she should always lend an ear when her spouse needs

She states that, “I am a Wife. And, not altogether incidentally, I am a mother” (229). while this might originally seem like ethos, as you read the essay, she starts to draw sympathy from the audience, subtly inferring that she has dealt with all of these outrageous standards in a relationship before writing this essay. Brady refers to desiring independence economically, followed by reference after reference of expectations of a wife. She mentions how much of a handful the children’s activities can be alone, mentioning doctor and dentist visits, a proper diet, a clean household, keeping clothes clean and mended, helping the children with their schooling; and to make it even harder, the man expects her to plan zoo trips, take them to the park, and make sure they have many

A cynical tone is used conveyed through irony in syntax, diction, and a false persona. Her cynical tone is derived from the double standard of men in a male dominate society. As the article begins Brady informs the audience " I am a Wife" along with the reasoning behind her argument. With the intent to exemplify the unequal standards of men to women and to tell the reader that this article comes from the opinion and experiences as a wife and a mother. However, ironically throughout the article a male persona is presented. By telling the audience what “I want in a wife”, they lose focus on the fact that this is a wife and mother expressing her thoughts. All the expectations that Brady expresses are expectations of a husband. In a predominantly

In the Essay written by Judy Brady, “I Want a Wife”, she discusses her annoyance and frustration with currently perceived gender roles. She begins by telling us that she is a wife and also a mother. With this information, she allows us to understand her perspective in the rest of the essay. One might even say the things she talks about, she has personally lived. Another part that sets up the rest of her essay is the fact that she mentions her thought began with an encounter with a male friend of hers. She makes it a point to express that he is recently divorced and that his children reside with their mother. He says that he is seeking another wife. This leads Judy to reflect on how; she too, would like a wife.

    Judy Brady in her essay “I Want A Wife” was written and published in the first issue of Ms.Magazine and during the women's movement in 1969.Brady’s purpose is to raise awareness of political and social issue occurring today. Brady believed women should not tolerate the way men act on woman.. In this essay Brady aims to convince her readers to look at a man's point of view and expectations of what he thinks a wife is and how she should act like. Throughout “I Want A Wife” Brady emphasizes that women are special and should be treated higher than society treats them now,through a first person point of view, anaphora and a satirical tone.

she goes on to say, “I would like to go back to school so that I can become economically independent, support myself, and if need be, support those dependent upon me” (p.251). “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” (p.251). but from this point on I can see throughout her essay that she has already establish what her rhetorical position is. the wife of this essay becomes an idea more importantly a sextet and completely to achieve ideals. Now at this point Brady is trying to demonstrate the way men think about what a wife should be is ridiculous.

The essay lists the duties expected to be done by a wife and the almost selfishness that a husband shows to a wife by forcing her to complete these duties. Her essay is a host for showing the work that she already does in her family and that she would like a wife to help her out. She hinges on the idea of what a husband wants in a sarcastic tone that shows that, in reality, she also deserves to have all those things done for her. Brady’s purpose is not to say that she realistically wants a wife, rather uses this to show that a husband thinks he is more worthy than his

The year is 1970. Samantha Stevens, an every day, American wife, spends yet another day trapped inside her house. Her husband, Darren, on the other hand, is at work, living his life. Darren does everything he can to suppress Samantha and force her into being the perfect suburban housewife. This situation, in particular, is from the beloved American classic television show, Bewitched.

In “I Want a Wife”, by Judy Brady, the author attentively studies the traditional obligations as a wife, that society demands. Although this essay was written in the 1970s, the paradigm of a wife hasn’t altered much as the duties of a wife still remains the same; to take care of her husband, the children and the household. From the tone of this essay, it appears that Brady opposes men. Accordingly to Brady, the primary and most vital role of a wife is to cater to her husband physically, sexually and emotionally.

In this day in age husbands typically don’t rely solely on their wives to do all the unwanted work. Working as a cashier at a grocery store, I frequently see men grocery shopping with their children. In addition to this, men aren’t necessarily the sole source of money in a family anymore. A woman is just as likely to have a job as a man. Rather than, in the essay, I Want a Wife, which was written during a time women were rarely with jobs because their responsibility was keeping the house tidy and making sure the children were being taken care of and entertained. Brady says, “I want a wife who will take care of my physical needs. I want a wife who will keep my house clean. A wife who will pick up after my children, a wife who will pick up after me” (4). This was the reality of the time in the 1960s.

Approving the majority of demands listed on the article — they do not seem too drastic or exaggerated. They seem quite reasonable and ethical in terms of being married, except for just a few. They aren’t in all seriousness rejective, they just sound a bit demanding and seems to tilt the table a bit. Keeping in mind that we’re talking about 1972 here — about 40 years ago — things’ have changed. Just “how much?”, is the question here. Although, the few demanding orders that seem a bit too much to be asking for seem a bit uncomfortable. Such as: “I want a wife to type my papers for me when I have written them, I want a wife to take care of the details of my social life, a wife who will pick up after me, I want a wife who assumes the complete responsibility of birth control, because I do not want more children.”, those few listed above sound as if they can be taken fully care of by ones’ self. It isn’t a battle, and they sure aren't the hardest tasks to accomplish. The whole ideology behind this, is that even up until this day, we still involve some of the listed works of Judy Brady in the direction of the modern day “wife”.