Is “Wife Material” a Misogynistic Phrase??
I don't even know if I can post this here.
I've been called “wife material” quite a few times by people across different age groups and genders.
What exactly are the standards of being “wife material”? What are we judging a woman against? How a "good woman" should behave???
Is she considered “wife material” because she's caring, patient, emotionally available, knows how to manage any situation, is “adjusting,” doesn't have “too many” opinions, or knows when to compromise? I mean, I can be all these and still be independent, ambitious, messy, difficult and figuring out myself.
I don't think I have a problem with the phrase itself. I can understand someone might simply mean, “She's someone I could see myself building a life with.” And, there's nothing wrong with that.
But the standards associated with the phrase feel a lot more nuanced. Sometimes, it feels like we're complimenting women for how well they fit into a role rather than appreciating them for who they are outside of it.
And ig that's what makes the phrase uncomfortable for me: Who gets to decide what makes someone “wife material” in the first place?
Before calling someone “wife material,” maybe we should ask ourselves: Are we appreciating her as an individual, or evaluating her for a role we expect her to fulfill?