The American Feminist Movement

American women’s rights throughout the twentieth century were indisputably restricted at home and in the workplace. Women were seen as lesser people than men; therefore, men had all the power in relationships, and women were viewed as the servants of the house. Women were to marry early, quickly start a family, and then give their lives to managing their house and family from then on. For years and years, this inequality and distinction between male and female had been experienced by women everywhere. For that reason the American Feminist Movement had started to take action. Women in all places were voicing their opinion on the difference between individualism and equality between men and women. Out of the numerous candid speakers was a writer …show more content…
She presents readers with numerous reasons and expanded logical details on what her wife should do. Brady says she would like a wife because she could then go back to school and “while I am going to school, I want a wife to take care of my children” (229). Brady wants to be able to expand her education without the worry of her children; therefore, she wants her wife to organize the children's schedules, along with hers, essentially never worrying about anyone except herself. Another responsibility Brady states she wants her wife to undertake is keeping her physical needs accommodated for: “I want a wife that will take care of my physical needs” (229). She states that she wants a wife who will keep the house cleaned, make sure the children’s things are picked up, keep the clothes continuously kept fresh, cook good meals, do the grocery shopping, and sympathize with pain from sickness. Brady also expresses that she wants a wife that will tend to all of her social needs, but not bother her while she interacts with her guests: “... 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…” (229). An additional duty that Brady wants her wife to undertake is being considerate to Brady’s carnal needs, “sensitive to my sexual needs,” yet not to worry about hers whenever Brady is not in the mood (230). All of these …show more content…
Magazine are women, and she uses that to her advantage when writing her article. To appeal to the reader’s emotions Brady uses pathos. Brady suggest that the husband’s limitations are meaningful than the wife’s, provoking animosity in the readers: “I want a wife who will not bother me with rambling complaints about a wife’s duties. But I want a wife who will listen to me when I feel the need to explain a rather difficult point I have come across in my course studies” (229). Brady makes the readers angry when she states this; therefore helping persuade them to agree with her argument. Making her readers angry once more, Brady brings out the point that wives and mothers, women in general, are basically replaceable: “ 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” (230). By setting specific emotions in the readers minds, Brady knows she can make them understand and agree with her.
Throughout her article “Why I Want a Wife,” Judy Brady outlines the typical stereotype of wives and mothers in the 1970’s. She utilizes ethos, logos, and pathos to persuade readers into agreeing with her claims. Presenting her credibility on the subject, explaining outlined reasoning, and stimulating reader emotions all