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Not sure if this was just a question for the men, but I would consider myself somewhat of a tradwife.

To start, I feel this term is highly nuanced, so it can be tough to discuss. Everyone has their own set of circumstances that prevents the existence of the perfect definition of "tradwife". A few things I can mention that I believe qualify me as a tradwife are: I take my role as a mother very seriously and have not worked outside the home for the last 10+ years as we have small children at home still, I homeschool our children, I cook from scratch, I do my best to avoid processed food in the home, we have dinner as a family every night, I take my role as a wife seriously as an equal partner or help mate to my husband. I stand by my husband as he leads our family while trusting and knowing he considers my feelings and opinions as equally as God's, and his own. I do my best to maintain an (within reason) orderly home where our family is blessed to enjoy peace and joy. The maintenance of the home is mainly on me, but with the involvement of all family members on varying levels. I take care of the home because husband works outside the home. I nurture the children and encourage them to have relationships with their father and to respect him. All circumstances are unique, but these are a few of my thoughts. I absolutely love my life as a wife and mother. We've made many worldly sacrifices to live this life and I believe it's worth it. It's not for everyone though, I suppose. What are commonly agreed upon characteristics of tradwives you've heard? What are your thoughts?

𝔼𝕣𝕪𝕟 𝔹𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕔𝕠 1y ago

So, it’s because I’ve never really heard anyone define it that I’m asking this question, so I don’t think I know yet what the commonly agreed upon characteristics of tradwives are.

By some of the answers, they’re defined very simply by one characteristic, by which even I would be considered one 😅 because I cook all the time and don’t have an onlyfans 😂

But others like you are answering more in line with my own thoughts, which are, a little simplistically:

A tradwife is a married woman who believes it’s her duty to live according to a certain conception of gender roles; to be a skilled, capable homemaker, and focus on pleasing her husband, with whom there is an obedience relationship, and raising children.

I’m partly asking this question because I’d like to know if it’s like I thought, and a belief in the necessity of gender roles and marital hierarchy is necessary for being a tradwife, or if a tradwife is simply defined by what she does. Because if the latter, I might be one 🤔 at least for now

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Discussion

Prisoner24601 1y ago

The definition you provided fits well, except for the obedience part.. definitely a partner who recognizes neither is more important than the other, and respects and adores her equal partner. Definitely recognition of gender roles and not afraid to express her femininity in carrying them out. I see gender roles as primary focuses with overlap.

Prisoner24601 1y ago

It just so happens that mens gender roles is to lead.. so rather than the wife being obedient, she allows the man to fulfill his role by leading

𝔼𝕣𝕪𝕟 𝔹𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕔𝕠 1y ago

I don’t get the difference here between obedience and following. Can you explain?

Prisoner24601 1y ago

Not surprisingly, human relations are more complex than they seem when digging in. I see "obedience" as implying AUTHORITY. Husbands don't have authority over wife's in my view. Each have different gifts and inclinations and strengths that are supposed to synergize and play on each other's strengths. For me, the "trad" criteria is recognizing gender roles, of which leadership and decision making is one for men. And a woman recognizing that this is a role the man plays, also has her role in supporting, providing critical views for consideration where needed, and counsel, oftentimes follows because she doesn't wanna make the decisions and she had already been brought in the process. These roles overlap in different areas. There is also the dynamic of in the home vs outside the home, too much to expound on.

𝔼𝕣𝕪𝕟 𝔹𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕔𝕠 1y ago

So if she consistently doesn’t want to make decisions, what is the point of a role?

Is this simply something y’all naturally fit into or is it enforceable somehow? What happens if one day she wants to make a decision or you wish she would?

𝔼𝕣𝕪𝕟 𝔹𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕔𝕠 1y ago

Sorry, this question does escape the scope of the original post, but I am curious. 🙏