The Tradwife Trend: Exploring Meaning, Influencers, Origins, and Aesthetic

Tradwife Movement

The tradwife movement #TradWifeTrend #TraditionalWife has been getting a lot of attention lately and I wanted to talk about what it means, where it came from, the influencers and the aesthetic.

 What is a Tradwife?

Tradwife is a portmanteau of traditional wife, meaning women who choose to take on traditional gender roles by focusing on homemaking, child rearing and supporting their husbands as the primary breadwinner. Tradwives want to go back to what they see as a simpler, more structured family life #TradWife #TradLife #HomemakerLife #WifeLife often drawing from mid 20th century domestic ideals.

Origins of the Tradwife Trend

The modern tradwife trend can be traced back to online communities, especially on certain Reddit forums, where discussions about traditional gender roles took off. The term “tradwife” itself came from an anti-feminist Reddit page and has since evolved to mean different things to different people. 

Historically it goes back to a time when women’s roles in society were mainly domestic. But critics say that’s romanticising a past where women had no rights and no opportunities.

Prominent Tradwife Influencers

Several influencers are promoting the tradwife lifestyle on social media:

• Hannah Neeleman: Shares glimpses of life on a Utah farm with her 8 kids. Doesn’t identify as a tradwife but is a big influencer in the tradwife community. PEOPLE
• Estee Williams: Promotes a lifestyle where women are homemakers who submit and serve their husbands like in a bygone patriarchal era. VOGUE

They post curated images of domestic life, traditional femininity and homemaking skills.

The Tradwife Aesthetic

The tradwife aesthetic draws heavily from 1950s fashion and domestic imagery #VintageLifestyle #TraditionalValues. Key elements include:

• Fashion: Flouncy dresses, bright colors, pearls, and vintage-inspired attire reminiscent of mid-20th-century housewives.

• Domestic Settings: Images of baking from scratch, gardening, and other homemaking activities set in quaint, well-kept homes.

• Symbols: Subtle incorporation of religious jewelry, reflecting traditional values.

This aesthetic aims to evoke nostalgia #1950sAesthetic #CottagecoreAesthetic for a perceived simpler time, though it has been critiqued for idealizing an era with restrictive gender roles.

Controversy and Criticism

While some view the tradwife movement as a personal choice to embrace traditional roles, others criticize it for promoting outdated gender norms and undermining feminist progress. Critics argue that it romanticizes a past where women had limited options and undermines the progress toward gender equality.

Additionally, the movement has been associated with alt-right ideologies, raising concerns about its broader social implications.

Conclusion

The tradwife movement and its associated aesthetic continue to spark debate, reflecting broader societal discussions about gender roles, personal choice, and the evolution of family dynamics. As with any lifestyle trend, it's essential to approach it with a critical eye, considering both individual autonomy and the historical context of the roles being embraced.