Tradwife: What Does It Mean and Why Is It Trending?
The idea of women adopting traditional gender roles and choosing to “serve” their husbands doesn’t seem particularly novel, in fact, it sounds very much like something that should be stuck in the past. But, as with many trends of the past, give it a social media makeover and a catchy hashtag, and you’ll see the #tradwife movement trending faster than you can prep your sourdough starter!
The concept kicks feminism to the curb and has left many with their head in their hands, wondering why we want to undo decades of hard-fought progress. If, like many, you were working under the impression that women were still marching towards equality, you’ve probably landed here after searching for the tradwife meaning. We’ll answer that now!
Contents:
- What Is a Tradwife?
- The Difference Between a Tradwife and Stay-At-Home Mom
- The Tradwife Revival
- Why the Tradwife Trend Is Controversial
- Keeping Children Safe, Regardless of Your Lifestyle Choice
- The Tradwife Trend: A Parenting Concern or a Passing Fad?
- FAQs
So, What Is a Tradwife?
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A tradwife, or traditional wife, is a married woman who has taken on a traditional gender role — keeping the home, looking after the children (if there aren’t any, there will likely be a plan to have them), and playing a supporting role to the husband, the sole income earner and head of the household.
The scariest part is that depending on how extreme the tradwife is in their views, these practices may or may not all be done whilst submitting to the husband.
What Does It Take to Be One?
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Although the tradwife movement conjures up Stepford Wife-esque images, every family has its own rhythm and so the specifics will vary from one family to the next. But the key themes are:
- The wife’s work is in the home. She is the homemaker—keeping the house clean, tidy and aesthetically pleasing
- Cooking—this isn’t just about making sure there is a meal on the table, if TikTok is anything to go by, it must be wholesome, cooked from scratch, and lovingly prepared too!
- Raising the children—a big part of the role is raising the children. Again, this is about being the picture-perfect mother
- The husband goes to work outside of the home and manages the finances
- And don’t forget to smile and make it look easy!
Where Did This All Begin?
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The perceived origin of the Tradwife varies. For many, the 1950s housewife immediately springs to mind—the role seems to be identical; stay home, clean, cook, and raise the children all while smiling and making it seem effortless. For others, the lifestyle is closer to 1800s Homesteading, where the goal is self-sufficiency. The truth is, it is likely to vary and will depend on the motivations for the lifestyle choice.
Self-sufficiency pioneer John Seymour spoke about “urban homesteading” which brings together small-scale sustainable agriculture with homemaking, and this blend is likely to resonate with most.
The Difference Between a Tradwife and Stay-At-Home Mom
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On the surface, it’s easy to dismiss the tradwife as a stay-at-home mom, nothing new to see here, but the two can actually be very different. Whilst a tradwife will always be a stay-at-home mom (or have plans to be), a stay-at-home mom will not always be a tradwife—in fact, many are appalled by the concept.
A stay-at-home mom is often one out of necessity or short term whilst their children are young. They intend to return to their careers and purposes outside of the home when the time is right. They certainly don’t have to ask for money or bear the sole responsibility for taking care of the home.
On the other hand, the self-proclaimed tradwife, at their most extreme, will believe they should be submissive. It should be noted however that there seems to be a spectrum when it comes to the tradwife. Many say that they aren’t against feminism and some believe that given that the tradwife lifestyle is their choice and not being forced upon them, it doesn’t counter feminism at all. There are also the likes of Hannah Neeleman of Ballerina Farm fame, who is often referred to as a tradwife and is certainly a homemaker and caregiver but is also very active on the farm.
The Tradwife Revival
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Social media, especially TikTok, has had a big role to play in highlighting the return to traditional gender roles. However, there is something very important to keep in mind when viewing this content; the die-hard trad wives of social media fame will be monetizing their content and as a result undermining a key principle of the trad wife lifestyle—they are earning their own money!
Related to this point, it should also be remembered that it is in their interest to create content that is provoking. The greater the reaction they can elicit, the greater the monetary reward. So, at least when it comes to the most extreme trad wife proponents, it should be taken with a pinch of salt. This type of trad wife might be little more than cosplay that doesn’t actually exist in the real world.
That is not to say there isn’t a genuine movement happening (social media just supersized it!). As people are becoming increasingly time-poor, there is growing resentment about working to pay for someone else to look after your children and take care of your home.
At the same time, society is becoming more aware of diet and what they put into their bodies. There is a desire to go back to basics, to cook and bake from scratch. But modern life today doesn’t allow the time for all these desires to be fulfilled, whilst working a day job too. So, step forward to the women who choose to free their time to prioritize their home life over their careers and get ready for social media to pick up on and explode this trend.
Why the Tradwife Trend Is Controversial
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There is nothing wrong with choosing to prioritize your family and home life, after all, feminism isn’t about forcing women into the workplace either. It is about choice.
Where people start to become concerned is the portrayal of the tradwife. Eerily perfect, made to look easy, without a word of caution or thought for what could go wrong. Divorce rates were lower in the 50’s, that’s true. But is this because a tradwife makes for a happier team at home, or is it because a financially dependent woman with no skills to speak of (referring to workplace-relevant skills here) has no other choice but to keep calm and carry on?
The glamorization of the housewife is where the discomfort creeps in. Whilst an adult can objectively assess the realism of the tradwife content and knows all too well the history and the ongoing battle for equality, an impressionable girl is unlikely to see past the woman with perfect hair and makeup, immaculate clothes, a beautiful home, and well-behaved children. Instead, it is seen as something attainable, to aspire to without a thought for the reality and the possible risks. Even adults can be left downbeat and frustrated by the unrealistic standards set by some tradwife content.
Keeping Children Safe, Regardless of Your Lifestyle Choice
Findmykids app
No matter what role model you choose, whether it’s the tradwife lifestyle or a more modern approach, the safety and well-being of your children remain a top priority. The Findmykids app can help ensure your child’s safety by allowing you to track their location, monitor their surroundings, and set safe zones.
The app also helps you monitor your child’s activity levels, giving you insights into their daily routines and ensuring they maintain a healthy balance between physical activity and rest.
Findmykids app provides peace of mind for parents, knowing they can always keep an eye on their child’s whereabouts and well-being.
Ensure your child’s safety and gain peace of mind with the Findmykids app. Stay connected, set safe zones, and monitor their surroundings with ease. Download now and protect your most precious asset—your children. Click the link to get started!
The Tradwife Trend: A Parenting Concern or a Passing Fad?
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While the tradwife trend feels alarming at first, it can be a great opportunity to talk to your children about the importance of balance and accepting that different people choose to live their lives in different ways. After all, for every tradwife extremist, there is a parody account. It’s important to help children, both girls and boys, understand that the most important thing is having the choice (within your means!). There is no right and wrong when it comes to living a life that makes you happy, as long as it does just that!
All of that said, it is a good idea to talk to your child to help them analyze what they are seeing to understand not everything is as it seems.
FAQs
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What is a tradwife in the modern day?
The definition of a modern-day tradwife is a woman who has chosen to embrace a traditional and stereotypical gender role. This typically involves prioritizing keeping the home, raising the children, and supporting the husband. There is often a focus on domestic skills such as cooking and crafting.
It is important to add that there is a whole spectrum of tradwife content out there with different interpretations of what it means to be a tradwife. Despite the spectrum, tradwives and stay-at-home moms are not one and the same.
What is a tradhusband?
For every tradwife, there needs to be a tradhusband who is also willing to play his part. This means that he believes in the traditional male role of being the sole income earner, taking on a leadership role in the household whilst the woman prioritizes taking care of the home, preparing wholesome, cooked-from-scratch meals, and raising the children.
What is the rise of the tradwife?
The rise of the tradwife refers to the fact that there is an increasing trend for women to return to embracing traditional sex-appropriate roles within marriage. The rise of the tradwife has gained attention through social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram and influencers, who have arguably contributed to the trend itself.
What is the traditional wife trend?
The traditional wife trend refers to the movement whereby women are returning to traditional gender roles in marriage. The trend is seeing women prioritizing keeping their home, raising their children, and supporting their husband, who is the breadwinner of the family.
The trend has gained prominence through social media and is not limited to marriages (there is a rise in stay-at-home girlfriends too). It is dividing opinion and generating conversation about gender roles and the importance of choice in feminism.
The picture on the front page: StockPhotoDirectors/Shutterstock.com
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