Trapped in the box of Subservience

                           
In Judy Brady's Essay, "I Want a Wife," she facetiously shines a spotlight on the discriminatory, chauvinistic treatment women faced in the 1970s. Women were subject to sexist attitudes coming from not just men but society as a whole up to this point and even in the present day. Sexism still exists and is promulgated through lyrics in songs, advertisements, movies etc. Nonetheless, it would be disadvantageous and frankly unfair to society as a whole if I refused to acknowledge how far we have come in striving for equality, but there is definitely still room to grow. Fortunately, nowadays women have the opportunity to leave the domestic position that they used to be boxed into by society and explore different career paths. I am grateful for women like Judy Brady who helped forge the path to the present day opportunities for women by refusing to be idly comfortable with what society expected and challenged the norm.

I love the tenacity and boldness within Brady's essay as well as the way she highlights all the duties wives were/are expected to perform in subservience to men. Brady focuses on this subjugation as she discusses how women are expected to be faithful to men as well as obey their sexual desires, but if men feel like they need to venture outside the marriage bed for pleasure, they may do so. Also, men do not need to be at the beckon call for their wife's sexual needs, but a man's wife "makes love passionately and eagerly when I [he] feel[s] like it, a wife who makes sure that I am satisfied." Brady unabashedly states how women are expected to do practically everything and then some for their husbands, expect nothing in return, not even a conversation about their interests. However, wives have to listen to whatever their husbands want to talk about. Her style of writing as well as her focus on the type of disgustingly degrading "yes Honey, whatever you want Sweetie" tasks just women are inherently expected to perform for their husbands without batting an eye has a way of catching the reader's attention, stirring up emotions. and instilling an indignant, dogged attitude.

While this sarcastic style of writing may work for women, unfortunately many men may think otherwise. I myself thoroughly enjoy her style of writing because it is entertaining and honestly frustrated me because it brought to mind present day sexist attitudes, but this approach does not work well for men. Her tone comes off as blatantly passive aggressive and combative which could offend men reading this essay who might think "I'm not like this. Why is she placing all men under one umbrella?" I agree that not all men are like this and Brady should have been more concerned about how men would perceive her writing. If she wanted more people on the side of feminism, she should have tailored what she wrote so it did not seem general and directed towards every man. The effectiveness of her essay was minimized by her disregard for the male perception. She wrote this essay for women to wake up and realize that they can either sit down and be satisfied with cooking, taking care of the kids, and run to their husbands' beck and call, or they can wake up and do something about their present condition. She inadvertently hurts her cause for equality with her unsavory depiction of all men, but achieves her goal of stirring the (emotional) pot with women. Her essay is extremely effective in bringing any sexism women have faced even in the present day to light, but her tone towards men weakens this persuasion. 

This essay connects to Medea in regards to wives being subject to unfair treatment by their husbands and society. Jason cheats on Medea and makes excuses for his despicable actions by saying he was actually helping the family. Medea killed her own family for Jason and had children with him and his restitution for her sacrifices is going after another woman. Despite the fact that Jason cheated on Medea, she is scorned by society and exiled for her actions. Medea could relate to the Brady's statement about how women must tend to their husbands' needs and be faithful, but men can play the field if needed and not show their gratefulness. 

Although sexism still exists, its appearances have definitely decreased since Brady's time. I appreciate Brady's efforts against sexism through her writing. Still, I maintain that she should not have targeted all men because women need allies in the fight against prejudiced mindsets and attitudes. Like the wife in this essay, Medea was stuck with a husband who took her for granted.