Feminism Through the Decades
The feminism movement has rapidly gained popularity within the last few
decades or so. In modern-day society, it is defined as equality between both genders,
male and female. Although there have been progressive strides made in the feminist
movement, including women’s suffrage as well as an acceptance of women in the
professional workplace, there are still steps that society can make to create equality
between men and women. Modern-day feminists have been focused on the Me Too
Movement as well as diminishing the wage gap. Judy Syfers and Kate Millett, both
feminists during the first wave of feminism in the late 1960’s, lived in a time where the
gender roles of men and women were extremely specific and confining. Women were
still fighting to work professionally in areas such as STEM and politics that were mostly
areas exclusively dominated by men. In response to these gender roles and in hopes of
changing society into one that is not constrained by gender, Syfers and Millett wrote
“Why I Want A Wife” and “Sexual Politics” respectively. Rachel O’Neill’s scholarly
article, “Whither Critical Masculinity Studies? Notes on Inclusive Masculinity Theory,
Postfeminism, and Sexual Politics” gives a contemporary outlook on feminism that
shows both societal similarities and differences to Syfers’ and Millet’s texts.
In both Syfers’ and Millett’s pieces, it is important for the reader to realize what
was expected out of both men and women during their era. Men were expected to be
the “breadwinners”, or the providers, of the house. This meant that they were the ones
to support their families financially. Women were expected to marry and in return for
financial support, provide children. Each gender had their place and had to abide by it
to fit into the societal standard. This is a big underlying assumption for both of their
texts. Syfers and Millett both explain to the reader, in their own way, how this keeps
women chained to, more or less, just being a wife.
Judy Syfers’ piece “Why I Want A Wife” is a satirical text that contrasts the stark
differences between male and female gender roles. She supports this comparison
through her own personal anecdotes. Her purpose is to prove to the reader that women
and men are not equal in society and how submissive and dependent the female
gender role in society are expected to be. Syfers’ piece uses satire to appeal to pathos.
The way she contrasts both male and female gender roles shows the reader exactly
how unequal these genders are. Through the perspective of a man, she tells the reader
how she would love to revisit her education and while she does this, she hopes her wife
