Definition Argument Essay

Definition Argument

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Definition Argument Explained

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Readings for Definition Argument

Judy Brady "Why I Want a Wife"

WHY I WANT A WIFE

By Judy Brady

Let's begin by reading a classic short essay, "Why I Want a Wife," by Judy Brady,

originally published in Ms. magazine in 1972 and reprinted as "Why I [Still] Want a Wife"

in the same magazine in 1990.

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 fresh from a recent divorce. He

had one child, who is, of course, with his ex-wife. He is 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, who arranges for their schooling, makes sure that they have an 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 change of scene.

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. And I want a wife who will type my papers for me when I have

written them

I want a wife who will take care of the 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 baby-sitting arrangements. When I meet people at school that I like and want

to entertain, 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 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 are offered a second 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 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?