Ouch. This hurts me deeply - always feeling like I am failing at my "wifely duties" and wishing desperately for relief. Is it possible to be a wife without all of these horrendous expectations?
Wives can surely see the truth in this piece. Sadly though, I haven't met many husbands in my life who would be capable or willing to reflect on this piece of writing - I can already hear the zillion rebuttals...
Sad that 50 years on and 2 generations later many of us (wives)can still relate
Great article. Thanks for sharing. In a recent post, I said I had left a successful job when a new boss told me I would never be as successful as he was because I didn't have a wife. Now I understand! I quit a week later. I never found a wife! And I never wanted a husband either. As you may have already read, I am a born-again single. Blue💙
I remember that MS piece very well. I was married a year later, and lived it for more than a quarter of a century. 🤦🏻 I was an idiot who married an asshole. It is outrageous that it is still 100% true!
It's incredible how something written more than 50 years ago can still feel so relevant today. I found myself smiling at the humor while also recognizing how much invisible work is hidden inside those lines. As a business owner, coach, wife, and mother, I could see parts of my own life reflected in the endless list of responsibilities that somehow become "normal." Thank you for sharing this. It's funny, sharp, and surprisingly thought-provoking all at the same time.
I’d just turned 15 in 1972, a young, but extremely committed feminist-in-training. Sent this article to my 30 year-old daughter - perhaps she’ll get a sense of what made me - ME. Wonder if she’ll ask me what’s up with MS? That would be an interesting day of storytelling.
I read this 50 yrs ago just before starting high school. And I can say "the more things change, the more they stay the same". Could we have fought harder, demanded more rights?
What is really hilarious about this Ellen is that me and another 2 of my friends came up with a concept for I Need A Wife about 10 years ago and we never did anything with it. It never got off the ground because we all so busy with other things. But we wanted to offer services for people locally that needed that "wifely" extra hand. We didn't know this piece existed at the time. Funny....I love it. I still need a wife....lol.
Yeah, everyone wants this fairytale to manage their lives.
The problem is expecting one person to actually do all of that for you "out of love" or duty... or whatever gender role perversion we have concocted to justify it since the dawn of humans. Women have been literally drinking and drugging themselves to death, having nervous breakdowns, or simply killing themselves to get out of this cage. When are we going to accept that it's impossible and abusive?
It is staggering and brilliant how a piece written over fifty years ago still cuts right to the bone, perfectly exposing the absurd, crushing amount of invisible labor that is so often expected of one person under the guise of partnership ✨
Ouch. This hurts me deeply - always feeling like I am failing at my "wifely duties" and wishing desperately for relief. Is it possible to be a wife without all of these horrendous expectations?
🤣🤣🤣still applicable in 2026!! Damn I want a wife too!! 🤣🤣🤣
Wives can surely see the truth in this piece. Sadly though, I haven't met many husbands in my life who would be capable or willing to reflect on this piece of writing - I can already hear the zillion rebuttals...
Sad that 50 years on and 2 generations later many of us (wives)can still relate
Or perhaps someday, probably not in my lifetime (I'm 82), AI will put on an apron and perform all these duties for us?! Blue💙
Great article. Thanks for sharing. In a recent post, I said I had left a successful job when a new boss told me I would never be as successful as he was because I didn't have a wife. Now I understand! I quit a week later. I never found a wife! And I never wanted a husband either. As you may have already read, I am a born-again single. Blue💙
I remember that MS piece very well. I was married a year later, and lived it for more than a quarter of a century. 🤦🏻 I was an idiot who married an asshole. It is outrageous that it is still 100% true!
It's incredible how something written more than 50 years ago can still feel so relevant today. I found myself smiling at the humor while also recognizing how much invisible work is hidden inside those lines. As a business owner, coach, wife, and mother, I could see parts of my own life reflected in the endless list of responsibilities that somehow become "normal." Thank you for sharing this. It's funny, sharp, and surprisingly thought-provoking all at the same time.
I’d just turned 15 in 1972, a young, but extremely committed feminist-in-training. Sent this article to my 30 year-old daughter - perhaps she’ll get a sense of what made me - ME. Wonder if she’ll ask me what’s up with MS? That would be an interesting day of storytelling.
Thanks very much for sharing.
I read this 50 yrs ago just before starting high school. And I can say "the more things change, the more they stay the same". Could we have fought harder, demanded more rights?
I am old enough to have read this the first time round - and yes, I did read MS in those days. It feels like not a lot has changed for too many of us
In retirement, I find myself disabled but caring for someone who is even more disabled. I have never been in more need of a wife than now.
What is really hilarious about this Ellen is that me and another 2 of my friends came up with a concept for I Need A Wife about 10 years ago and we never did anything with it. It never got off the ground because we all so busy with other things. But we wanted to offer services for people locally that needed that "wifely" extra hand. We didn't know this piece existed at the time. Funny....I love it. I still need a wife....lol.
Truly brilliant and well when u phrase it like that I want a wife too lol 😆
Yeah, everyone wants this fairytale to manage their lives.
The problem is expecting one person to actually do all of that for you "out of love" or duty... or whatever gender role perversion we have concocted to justify it since the dawn of humans. Women have been literally drinking and drugging themselves to death, having nervous breakdowns, or simply killing themselves to get out of this cage. When are we going to accept that it's impossible and abusive?
It is staggering and brilliant how a piece written over fifty years ago still cuts right to the bone, perfectly exposing the absurd, crushing amount of invisible labor that is so often expected of one person under the guise of partnership ✨
Reading this was actually very triggering for me because I identify and I know many other people do too. Have we made much progress?
I was exhausted just reading it