What’s The Tradwife Movement And Why You Should be Concerned

You’ve probably already come across this term if you’re active on social media. The tradwife movement is taking over the internet, with plenty of influencers now promoting this lifestyle. While some think there is nothing wrong with this modern trend, others believe it harms young women and may cause serious issues in our society. We agree with the latter view! But what exactly is the tradwife movement? Is it growing? And – most importantly – should we be concerned?

What Is A Tradwife?

A tradwife is a stay-at-home mom, but there’s a catch. Tradwives are known for traditional gender roles in marriages. They may be anti-feminist, may refuse to work outside the house, and may also discourage girls from going to school.

Tradwives also have been linked to another movement: white nationalism. Many tradwife influencers use dog-whistles to appeal to white supremacist groups while touting the importance of traditional gender roles.

Tradwife vs Housewife

Tradwives are not the same as housewives. A housewife is a woman who may or may not be a stay-at-home mom. She may be a homemaker, but she might have a home-based job. She also might be a feminist in her own right.

A tradwife is a woman who openly rejects feminism, often touts anti-choice causes, and believes that women should not have jobs. She wants to be totally dependent on her spouse and encourages other women to do the same. Tradwives are often linked to alt-right movements, while housewives aren’t.

The Tradwife Allure

Considering how hard it is to make a living these days, it’s not surprising to hear that many young women find the idea of not having a job appealing. Tradwife influencers do a great job of making it sound like a carefree lifestyle where you are taken good care of.

There is something deeply appealing about living a life where you can just happily bake pies and play with your kids. In reality, this movement is a lot more risky than influencers want to admit.

No Financial Safety Net

Back in the 90s, there was a classic phrase tossed around by feminist groups: “A man is not a plan.”

This is still true. A woman who marries without work experience, a degree, or anything else is at the mercy of her spouse. If he decides to divorce her, she’s completely lost. She may not be able to get alimony. She’ll need to work on her own…and getting hired without having a job for decades can prove to be nearly impossible.

Even if her husband doesn’t leave but dies, she may not be able to keep a roof over her head. A woman’s career is a major safety net for her future.

The Tradwife Influencer Lie

There’s a little bit of irony when it comes to tradwife life. Influencers from TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram spearhead this movement. These influencers are not doing it for free. They are making money from the views they get, and they want you to forget that nasty fact conveniently.

It’s literally their job to influence people and promote a particular image. They are getting paid to do that, either from the platform or from donors. So, while they are telling other women to stay at home and not work, they’re laughing their way to the bank.

Opening Women To Abuse

The lies and financial safety loss are problematic, but they’re far from the only problems. A more significant issue that women may face in a tradwife relationship is the vulnerability it brings to abused women. Abusers love having women financially dependent on them because it makes it harder for them to leave.

Limiting access to income (including discouraging a partner from working) is a form of financial abuse. Financial abuse is the most common type of abuse, and it’s present in almost all other abuse cases.

Teaching Abuse Acceptance

The tradwife scene does have a tendency to open women up to the risk of abuse, but that’s not the only abuse-related issue this movement has. Since tradwives have a strong belief in women’s submission, they also tend to blame abuse victims.

More than one influencer posted tweets discussing how they are teaching their daughters to be submissive. Others have blamed victims of abuse for the actions of their partners. Neither action is healthy.

Toxic Messaging To Kids

With all the advice tradwife influencers give to impressionable girls, it’s not surprising that some potentially dangerous advice weaves itself into the dialogue. A common theme among influencers is discouraging girls and women from going to college.

These influencers also tend to put a huge amount of pressure on younger women to marry ASAP, which often leads to disastrous results. They also tend to promote false medical facts as the truth. This can lead to terrible outcomes for women who listen to them.

Strict Gender Roles

Another issue that comes with tradwifery is also inherent because of what they believe. Strict gender roles don’t always work in reality. For many women, the issue of gender roles can work well in their case.

But what happens if you want to be a tradwife in a lesbian relationship? Who’s the “man?” What happens if you don’t feel like getting dolled up and baking bread? In the tradwife world, that would suggest that you’re “defective.”

Skewing Men’s Perception Of Women

It’s important to point out that women are not the only victims of the tradwife movement. Men are, too. Tradwife influencers have been linked to men’s perceptions of women’s relationship roles as well.

These influencer accounts make it seem like women do nothing but eat bonbons on the couch all day. In reality, stay-at-home moms do work at all hours. They packaged a fantasy of a perfect, happy housewife who does it all as reality…and it’s making it hard for men to have realistic expectations of love and marriage.

An Unattainable Lifestyle

The other major risk with the tradwife lifestyle is that it’s just not feasible anymore. Most homes in the United States are now dual-income homes. This is not an option people prefer, but rather, a necessity. Times are hard.

The idea that a man could support a wife and a gaggle of kids on a single salary is highly unlikely today. In fact, it’s just not attainable for most people. Acting like it is a possibility is a serious risk to one’s future, not to mention your mental health.

Harder Than You Think

The ‘trad-wife’ movement also seems to depict an ideal scenario in which house chores are fun. While these can surely be fulfilling for some, caring for a house and kids is difficult. Women choosing to stay at home rather than work should know that this lifestyle also has challenges. Try to spend an entire day cooking, cleaning the house, and helping your kids with homework and you’ll quickly realize how tough it can be.

Turning Back Time

There have been so many advances in gender equality over the past few decades, but the tradwife movement is against all of those positive changes. Rather than push for more equality and women’s rights, it goes back to the outdated concept that women are not equal. It actually discourages women’s rights, which is something we have all been fighting for. This is a dangerous and slippery slope in the wrong direction.

A Disclaimer

This being said it’s important to remember that feminism is based on the notion that all women should be able to choose what’s best for them without being judged for their decisions. This means nothing is wrong if a woman genuinely prefers to stay home and care for the house and kids while her partner is responsible for the household’s finances.

Some Positives

We’ve highlighted most of this movement’s negative aspects, yet, as with everything in life, there are a few positives, too. For instance, this movement seems to push for a return to a more natural way of living in which fast food meals are replaced with nourishing home-cooked dishes. Plus, it encourages women to spend time with kids and away from social media.