Popularized this summer on TikTok, the term “tradwife” refers to a woman in a heterosexual relationship who adheres to the role of homemaker — raising children, housekeeping and cooking — while her husband acts as the breadwinner. This lifestyle has been heavily romanticized through aesthetic “day in the life” videos garnering millions of views, but at its very core, it serves to oppress women.
Although it is not popular knowledge, the concept sources from a meme on 4chan posted in July of 2019. The “Trad Girl” was little more than a misogynistic fantasy of anti-feminist men who resented the progress of women in society and craved the idea of a submissive and obedient woman. Like many other tropes, the tradwife is not a real person but a fetishization of traits desired by men. This fantasy marks the housewife of the 1950s as the “dream woman” with a blatant disregard of women’s struggle during this time period. The oppression of women is fundamental to this lifestyle.
This July, an article published by The Sunday Times raised concerns surrounding the creator Ballerina Farms, widely considered a tradwife on TikTok. A mother of eight children, Hannah Neeleman of Ballerina Farms, appeared exhausted beyond comprehension in her daily content surrounding her and her husband’s life. The article detailed ways in which her husband controlled her and prioritized his wants over hers, emphasizing her evident oppression in the relationship. The dynamic between the two supports the interpretation of the tradwife as harmful to women specifically.
The desire for a woman who is obedient and ladylike has surged with the rise of young men marching towards conservatism. With the widespread popularity of people like Andrew Tate or the boys from the Fresh and Fit podcast, the room for men to express hatred for modern women and feminism has broadened dramatically. These men are the true target audience of the tradwife trend; its genuine enjoyers. Algorithms featuring tradwife content have been shown to be increasingly far right, featuring conspiracy theories and apocalyptic fear mongering.
Although many aspects of the tradwife trend are concerning, one thing is certain, the majority of women do not want to live the struggle of their mothers and grandmothers. Women are more liberal than ever before and strive daily for change and awareness in their lives, fighting for a better future for all.
