The Various Reasons Why Men Need Wives, According to Judy Brady
1. Introduction
Judy Brady’s essay “I Want a Wife” first appeared in theMs. magazine’s inaugural issue in 1972. The essay is a satirical commentary on the role of wives in society and how their husbands benefit from their efforts. Brady writes from the perspective of a man who wants a wife and lists all the ways in which she would be useful to him. While the essay is humorous, it also highlights the unequal treatment of women in society and the expectations placed on them as wives and mothers.
2. The role of women according to Judy Brady
Judy Brady’s essay highlights the many roles that women play in society and how their husbands benefit from their efforts. She writes from the perspective of a man who wants a wife and lists all the ways in which she would be useful to him. While the essay is humorous, it also highlights the unequal treatment of women in society and the expectations placed on them as wives and mothers.
Some of the roles that Brady assigns to women include:
– Serving as a domestic servant
– Taking care of the children
– Making sure the house is clean and orderly
– Cooking meals
– Doing laundry
– Providing sexual gratification for their husbands
– Acting as a sounding board for their husband’s ego
– Being available when their husbands want them
– Serving as a social hostess for their husband’s business or professional associates
– Playing the role of dutiful wife in public
– pretending to be happy in their marriages
– entertain their husband’s friends and relatives
– taking care of their husband’s parents
– working outside the home to help support the family
– attending church with their husbands
– being a good mother to their children.
3. The schools of thought on why men need wives
There are several schools of thought on why men find it necessary to have wives. Some believe that it is for convenience, while others see it as a way to affirm their masculinity. There are also those who believe that wives are needed for sexual gratification and to provide a parental role in the family. Lastly, there are those who believe that marriage is a religious institution and that husbands need wives to fulfill their role as head of the household.
Those who believe that men need wives for convenience argue that it is easier and less time-consuming to have one person who takes care of all the domestic duties. This way, the husband can focus on his career and other important pursuits. Moreover, having a wife ensures that there is always someone available to take care of the children and the home, even when the husband is away on business or working late hours.
Those who see marriage as a way to affirm their masculinity believe that having a wife makes them feel more like a man. They feel that they are in charge of the household and responsible for providing for their families. This sense of responsibility and power can be very appealing to some men.
There are also those who believe that men need wives for sexual gratification. They see marriage as a way to have regular and consensual sex without having to worry about contracting diseases or getting caught by the law. Moreover, they view marriage as a way to legitimize their sexual desires and ensure that their partner is sexually faithful to them.
Lastly, there are those who believe that marriage is a religious institution and that husbands need wives to fulfill their role as head of the household. They see marriage as a way to affirm their faith and live according to the teachings of their religion. Additionally, they believe that having a wife helps them to be more moral and upright citizens.
4. Conclusion
Judy Brady’s essay “I Want a Wife” is a satirical commentary on the role of wives in society and how their husbands benefit from their efforts. While the essay is humorous, it also highlights the unequal treatment of women in society and the expectations placed on them as wives and mothers. There are several schools of thought on why men find it necessary to have wives, and each one has its own merits. Ultimately, it is up to each individual to decide whether or not he wants to enter into the institution of marriage.