Why I Want a Wife by Judy Brady

  

     Judy Brady, informative essay, Why I Want a Wife (1972), explores the reasons of why she would want a wife and that explains to us why a man should want a wife also. Judy Brady begins by giving her background saying that she was a wife and a mother and she mentions to us about a male friend of hers that was recently divorced. Brady realized that she would like to have a wife because of all of the duties that a wife completes. This is directed to the general audience but mainly women that feel they have been used.
     While reading this essay I felt as though the author was explaining to us all of the responsibilities that comes with being a wife. She mentions things such as making sure the children eat properly and are kept clean (107), takes care of the children when they are sick (108), and how she is suppose to arrange to lose time at work and not lose the job (108). The author makes me feel as though the husband really doesn't have a part in raising and taking care of the children. Her life should basically revolve around him and the children and she doesn't really have a voice in the relationship. Then the author goes into more details about the wife should take care of her husband and I thought some of the points she made were pretty selfish and self-centered. In the essay it says that the wife is supposed to entertain the husband's house guest and how the wife is suppose to satisfy his sexual needs when he wants it (108-109). I feel as in a relationship everything should be 50/50 all the time and not just one-sided. Each person has a hand in raising the children because they decided together to have the child in the first place.
     This essay was written so the audience could see where she was coming from and relate to the audience. Even though I am not married, it made me rethink the whole marriage thing in whether I am ready to be responsible for all those duties as a wife. At first I felt like it was too much but then again as a wife you are supposed to do those types of things. I look at how my mother treats my father and some of the points mentioned in the essay is what my mother does. I think I am going to keep the honor and tradition going.