Language and Culture

I want a wife by Judy Brady

Judy Brady 


Judy (Syfers) Brady, "Why [Still] I Want a Wife"

Judy Brady (1937- ) was born in San Francisco and earned a B.F.A. from the University of Iowa in 1962. Brady's a feminist, a political and environmental activist—especially having to do with cancer-related issues, and a freelance writer. She's edited both Women and Cancer (1990) and One in Three: Women with Cancer Confront an Epidemic (1991). Brady's work has also appeared in periodicals such as Greenpeace Magazine and The Women's Review of Books. Her classic satirical essay "Why I Want a Wife" was first published in the first issue of Ms. Magazine in 1972 and reprinted as "Why I [Still] Want a Wife" in Ms. in 1990.

Vocabulary Activity

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
CONTENT

What is the main subject of the second paragraph?
How does the author describe a wife's role regarding sexual needs?
How are household chores broken down in this essay? Generalize them, and then give examples.
According to Brady, what are a wife's social duties?
What does this essay say, and imply, about divorce? How do the sex roles presented define divorce?

Engaging the text

Do you want a wife? Explain. How might you relate your feelings about this topic to your reading?


Assignment

1. Does this essay suggest that marriage is a defunct institution? Write an essay using that general proposition as your thesis, stated either positively or negatively. Then, using your reading and your own views, thoroughly support your position.

2. Write a similar text, but describing the supposed role of a husband

3. Is Brady attacking marriage itself? Write an essay in which you explain why mariage is right or wrong for you now or at any time.

Links

Online Text: I want a Wife by Judy Brady

posted by Aiden @ 7:08 PM