I Want a Wife Analysis (super interesting !!!!)

Satire runs through the words of Judy Brady’s essay, “I Want a Wife,” faster than any Olympic sprinter I’ve ever seen. She opens her essay with an ironically sarcastic tone, the first two paragraphs capitalizing on her relevant classification and her experience on the topic, immediately establishing ethos by expressing her knowledge on the topic. For being an essay written in 1971, where women were still looking to crash workplace stereotypes, the statement she is making is fairly bold. But going referring even farther back than the first two paragraphs, this essay could draw initial attention through the title, “I Want a Wife,” and through the fact that it was written by a woman. One could be led to question her sexual orientation just off first glance. She is engaging her audience, US citizens, immediately.

In Brady’s longest paragraph, #3, she discusses her subject immediately, combating the average roles of, what I’d assume to be, her usual chores. Washing clothes, keeping track of appointments and children, and keeping her spouse in check. Each task is mentioned with a sarcastic undertone, giving us a feel for the purpose of her writing; to discuss her opinions through irony and humor.. Brady makes usual activities seem ridiculous like, for example, “I want a wife who takes care of the children when they are sick, a wife who arranges to be  around when our children need special care, because, of course, I cannot miss class at school.”  This adds an element of irony to the piece, her discussion barely touching the traditional “American Dream” giving me the mental picture of a white picket fence around her house and the classic “Man-in-the-movies” husband that rushes off to work in the morning after kissing his wife goodbye.

In her next five paragraphs, Brady continues with similar essay structure, drawing in examples that make the audience question what purpose the spouse serves at all. Looking for a wife that can “plan the menus, do the necessary grocery shopping, prepare the meals, serve them pleasantly, and then do the cleaning up.” Does the spouse in this home do anything? Each following paragraph contains similar examples and statements with an undertone of frustration. She draws the essay to an end with as sarcastic an  end as her start. After listing all the qualities of a perfect wife, her final point is, “My God, who wouldn’t want a wife?”

Now, where I feel that the situation is still relevant today, I think it is less intense. In 2017, it still is an issue for sure, I can agree with that. But I feel like in this day and age, we have growing awareness for minority rights. We are  s-l-o-w-l-y  working towards change. I, personally, have a different experience than Brady just from my seeing my parents as I grow up. They have equal respect for one another and for the things they have to get done. They are always working together and supporting each other, rather than expecting too much of each other. However, despite my different view on the situation, I understand where Brady is coming from and I believe her essay is still relevant. On top of that though, I do believe things are changing.