Judy Brady

I belong to that classification of people known as wives. I am a Wife. And, not altogether incidentally, I am a mother.

Not too long ago a male friend of mine appeared on the scene from the Midwest fresh from a recent divorce. He had one child, who is, of course, with his ex-wife. He is obviously looking for another wife. As I thought about him while I was ironing one evening, it suddenly occurred to me that I, too, would like to have a wife. Why do I want a wife?

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. 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. I want a wife to keep track of the children’s doctor and dentist appointments. And to keep track of mine, too. I want a wife to make sure my children eat properly and are kept clean. I want a wife who will wash the children’s clothes and keep them mended. I want a wife who is a good nurturant attendant to my children, arranges for their schooling, makes sure that they adequate social life with their peers, takes them to the park, the zoo, etc. I want a wife who takes care of the children when they are sick, a wife who arranges to be around when the children need special care, because, of course, I cannot miss classes at school. My wife must arrange to lose time at work and not lose the job. It may mean a small cut in my wife’s income from time to time, but I guess I can tolerate that. Needless to say, my wife will arrange and pay for the care of the children while my wife is working.

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. I want a wife who will keep my clothes clean, ironed, mended, replaced when need be, and who will see to it that my personal things are kept in their proper place so that I can find what I need the minute I need it. I want a wife who cooks the meals, a wife who is a good cook. I want a wife who will plan the menus, do the necessary grocery shopping, prepare the meals, serve them pleasantly, and then do the cleaning up while I do my studying. I want a wife who will care for me when I am sick and sympathize with my pain and loss of time from school. I want a wife to go along when our family takes a vacation so that someone can continue to care for me and my children when I need a rest and a change of scene.

I want a wife who will take care of details of my social life. When my wife and I are invited out by my friends, I want a wife who will take care of the babysitting arrangements. When I meet people at school that I like and want to certain, I want a wife who will have the house clean, will prepare a special meal, serve it to me and my friends, and not interrupt when I talk about the things that interest me and my friends. I want a wife who will have arranged that the children are fed and ready for bed before my guests arrive so that the children do not bother us. I want a wife who takes care of the needs of my guests so that they feel comfortable, who makes sure that they have an ashtray, that they are passed the hors d’oeuvres, that they helping of the food, that their wine glasses are replenished when necessary, that their coffee is served to them as they like it. And I want a wife who knows that sometimes I need a night out by myself.

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. And, of course, I want a wife who will not demand sexual attention when I am not in the mood for it. I want a wife who assumes the complete responsibility for birth control, because I do not want more children. I want a wife who will remain sexually faithful to me so that I do not have to clutter up my intellectual life with jealousies. And I want a wife who understands that my sexual needs may entail more than strict adherence to monogamy. I must, after all, be able to relate to people as fully as possible.

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 will expect a fresh, new life; my wife will take the children and be solely responsible for them so that I am left free.

When I am through with school and have acquired a job, I want my wife to quit working and remain at home so that my wife can more fully and completely take care of a wife’s duties.

My God, who wouldn’t want a wife?

1. Tell whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F).

1) According to the essay, Brady’s quarrel with her husband sparked in her the realization that she, too, “would like to have a wife”. ( )

2) In the opening sentences of this essay, the author classifies herself according to two roles that she plays: wife and mother. ( )

3) In this essay, Judy Brady says that she wants a wife who will make so much money that she will never have to work again. ( )

4) In the essay, Judy Brady says a wife should be economically independent. ( )

5) At the end of the essay, Brady declares that in spite of the fact that she is a woman she also wants a wife. ( )

2. Discuss the following questions.

1) How many categories of wifely duties does Brady refer to? How are they related?

2) How does the author define the term “wife”? Is her portrayal of wives realistic? According to this essay, how do husbands differ from wives?

3) In formal argumentation, we often call the writer’s main point the major or main proposition. What is Brady’s major proposition?

4) What minor propositions does Brady present to show why she wants a wife? What details does she offer to illustrate those minor propositions?

5) Brady’s style is obviously straightforward, her sentences for the most part simple and often brief. Why has she chosen such a style? What is the effect of the repetition in use?

6) The author’s basic tone in her argumentation is ironical. Point out the uses of irony in the essay. How does irony contribute to Brady’s main intent in this essay?

7) Brady is showing us all the duties and responsibilities of the woman in a contemporary household. Has Brady represented these duties fairly? Do husbands generally expect their wives to do all these things?

8) Brady has characterized the traditional and stereotyped roles usually assigned to wives. What “wifely responsibilities” has she left out?

9) What is the overall purpose of Brady’s essay? How do you know? What clues make this purpose clear?

10) Is this essay as pertinent today as it was 40 years ago? From your perspective, how have sexual roles change since 1970s? How are wives’ roles different from your mother’s role as a wife?

3. Oral Work: Recite the essay and give a similar speech using the same tone and repetitive pattern of the text.