By Brendalis Puig
An intriguing cultural trend has exploded online over the past year, capturing people’s attention on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. The “tradwife” phenomenon has received considerable attention, with polarized opinions on whether or not it resembles a cultural shift or a step back.
What is a “tradwife?”
Short for traditional wife, a “tradwife” refers to women known for embracing traditional gender roles, more specifically focusing on supporting their husbands by raising their kids and taking care of the house. They stay at home and make sure to cook and maintain a clean house, with the husband as head of the family being responsible for financially supporting the household.
Why is it trending?
Influencers show, in their picturesque videos, the essential values of what a “tradwife” represents. They film their lives as homemakers by uploading videos of cooking and taking care of the house and their kids. Some of these “tradwives” live on farms like in the case of Hannah Neeleman, the queen of “tradwives.”
Hannah Neeleman, also known as Ballerina Farm, is a farm mother of eight kids who bakes, milks cows, dances and even competes in beauty pageants for her 10 million Instagram followers.
She was a former ballerina who trained at Juilliard in New York and abandoned her career to become a traditional wife.
“I was a good ballerina. But I knew that when I started to have kids my life would start to look different,” Hannah Neeleman told The Sunday Times in an interview back in July.
Currently living in rural Utah with her eight children and husband, The Sunday Times revealed in July that she is married to Daniel Neeleman, the son of David Neeleman a billionaire founder of numerous commercial airlines, including JetBlue.
Even though “tradwives” affirm that they do not work because they do not want to work, these “tradwife” influencers that track their daily life online still set up their equipment, edit their videos, and constantly create content for which they monetize.
Mac Thomas, senior in digital media and broadcasting, weighed in on the topic for The Buccaneer.
“For me, I can see it both ways. I can see why you would want your women to stay at home and do traditional duties. That sense of pride as a man can be overwhelming and gratifying. However, I also have a sister and my mom, and if anyone were to tell them they should be housewives, I would definitely feel some type of way about it because my mom has built a highly successful career as an athletic trainer and gym teacher,” he said. “I think there’s a way to balance both.”
In a 2022 TikTok video, Estee Williams, one of the most popular “tradwives,” denies the phenomenon as being a movement, as she affirms, “nobody is pushing it; people are just typically living and showcasing their lifestyle.”
She highlights that it is a personal belief that she and other women believe that their “purpose is to be homemakers.”
When asked about her opinion on “tradwives,” Anise Lowe, senior in communication and media studies, said, “I think it is up to them if that is the life they choose to live, as long as they’re not imposing and forcing people to have that perspective, and even for the women who would rather not follow this lifestyle, they shouldn’t be judgmental either and respect other people’s lifestyles.”
While a young woman is unlikely to be influenced by TikTok videos that promote traditional gender roles as they are increasingly rejecting these views due to their desire for empowerment and independence, it raises questions about how our society is shifting away from the progress made in terms of gender equality.
“I love traditional hobbies like baking and crocheting. I don’t mind “tradwives,” but I don’t support “tradwives” forcing those roles on other girls as I personally don’t want to be a traditional wife,” pointed out Cece Ayala, a junior in business management and finance.
The idea behind the current phenomenon of "tradwives" seems to be romanticizing a time in which women's roles were limited to supporting their husbands and taking care of the house, a time when women did not have the option to work outside of their homes. The "tradwife" trend supports the belief that a woman's main responsibilities are taking care of their family and maintaining their home.
“You can have traditional values, but there is a limit; you cannot just tell young people to throw away their lives to go into this family unit,” said Tiani Sankey, a junior in communications and media studies.
Having the ability to not work and stay at home requires a certain degree of privilege. The main commonality between “tradwives” is their economic status. This means that individuals who are displaying these lifestyles on social media do it because they can afford it.
The “tradwife” trend seems to blend old-fashioned gender roles in a modern way through social media, sparking a debate on how it might affect the progress made toward gender equality.
“Tradwives” influencers like Hannah Neelenam display this lifestyle. However, their success often highly depends on their financial privilege. While this trend raises questions about personal choices and societal norms, it also emphasizes the need to respect and understand other's personal choices.
Amazing read. The fact that I don’t see that a woman’s only job should be to take care of the house and the kids, I do believe that everyone should have the right to choose what’s best for them and their family.