I Want a Wife: Analysis of Judy Brady's Main Thesis

Introduction

Judy Brady's satirical essay "I Want a Wife" (1971) presents a sharp criticism of society's traditional expectations of wives and women's roles. Through clever use of repetition and irony, Brady constructs a thesis that exposes the unreasonable and exploitative nature of what society expects from wives.

Central Thesis

Brady's primary thesis is that society's conception of a "wife" represents an unfair servant role rather than an equal partnership. She demonstrates this by methodically listing the endless duties and expectations placed on wives, while highlighting how these expectations benefit everyone except the wife herself.

Development of the Argument

The Power of First-Person Narrative

Brady's choice to write from the perspective of someone wanting a wife (rather than being one) is particularly effective. As a woman herself, this creates an immediate layer of irony that helps expose the absurdity of these expectations. The narrator's matter-of-fact tone in listing increasingly demanding requirements emphasizes how normalized these excessive expectations have become.

Strategic Use of Repetition

The repeated phrase "I want a wife who..." serves multiple purposes:

1. It creates a rhythmic structure that builds momentum
2. It emphasizes the endless nature of demands placed on wives
3. Each new repetition adds to the growing sense of absurdity
4. The accumulation of tasks makes the unfairness increasingly apparent

Specific Demands and Their Implications

Brady strategically organizes the demands into several key categories:

Domestic Labor

• Household maintenance
• Cooking and cleaning
• Shopping and errands
• Child-rearing responsibilities

Professional Support

• Supporting the spouse's education and career
• Maintaining social connections
• Managing household finances

Personal Sacrifice

• Sexual availability
• Personal needs subordinated to others
• Career and educational aspirations put on hold

The Role of Irony

Brady's use of irony is particularly effective in exposing the inherent unfairness of these expectations. The narrator's casual tone while listing increasingly unreasonable demands helps highlight how society has normalized what are actually extraordinary expectations. The essay's conclusion, wanting a wife who will "take care of my physical needs" and "when I am through with her, I want the right to replace her," delivers the final satirical punch by reducing the wife to a completely disposable commodity.

Broader Social Commentary

Beyond critiquing marriage specifically, Brady's essay addresses larger social issues:

1. Gender Inequality: The essay exposes how society's structure creates and maintains gender-based power imbalances
2. Economic Dependency: Brady highlights how traditional marriage roles can trap women in positions of economic dependence
3. Double Standards: The essay reveals how society applies different standards to men and women, particularly in terms of personal freedom and career development
4. Institutional Sexism: By listing these expectations so plainly, Brady exposes how deeply ingrained these inequalities are in social institutions

Contemporary Relevance

While written in 1971, many of Brady's observations remain relevant today:

• The persistence of gender-based division of domestic labor
• Continued expectations for women to balance career and primary caregiving
• Ongoing debates about work-life balance and gender roles
• Questions about the nature of marriage as an institution

Literary Techniques that Support the Thesis

Brady employs several key literary devices to strengthen her argument:

1. Satire: The entire piece uses satire to expose societal absurdities
2. Anaphora: The repeated phrase structure emphasizes the mounting demands
3. Understatement: The matter-of-fact tone heightens the ironic effect
4. Accumulation: The growing list of requirements builds to an overwhelming conclusion

Conclusion

Brady's thesis effectively exposes the inherent unfairness in traditional wife roles by presenting these expectations in a straightforward, accumulative manner. Through satire and careful construction, she forces readers to confront the absurdity of treating wives as servants rather than equal partners. The essay's enduring relevance speaks to both its effectiveness as social commentary and the ongoing need to examine and challenge gender roles in society.

By methodically listing out these expectations while maintaining an ironic distance, Brady creates a powerful argument for reconsidering how society views and values wives' contributions. The essay's lasting impact comes from its ability to make readers uncomfortable with assumptions they might have previously taken for granted, leading to deeper questioning of gender roles and marital expectations.