"Why I Want A Wife"-Judy Brady

In Judy Brady's "Why I Want A Wife"(1972), she explains the many reasons she would like a wife and the expectations she would have for her wife. In all honesty, I do not think that she really wants to marry a woman, she would just like for her spouse to be the equivalent of a wife, and not just a wife, but a wife and mother. She would like for her spouse to embody all of the qualities and poses all of the skills that a wife is supposed to uphold. Bumping into her male friend and the conversation that they shared made her realize just how important the role of a wife is. Why else would he be so eager to remarry so soon after his divorce? He realized that without a "wife" he would have to assume the responsibility for make sure that all of the domesticated chores were taken care of. After reading all of the things that she expected from her would be wife, I realized the importance of the role of the wife and mother. The job entails more than just hugs and kisses at night, and bedtime stories. The job is SERIOUS BUSINESS!!!! Like she said "My God, who wouldn't want a wife?" I also realized that after reading this selection and looking back at the roles of myself, my mother, and my grandmother, she is completely right in the description of the duties expected. I guess i never paid attention to it because it comes so naturally. I just fell right in line with the way of society and I had and still have no problem with my job. I actually enjoy it very much. Granted there are some major differences between my life and the one she described in the book, like the choice of another spouse so freely...that would NEVER be acceptable in my case. But there are also some major similarities and I am grateful for the reading because it opened my eyes to see how important my role as a mother and soon-to-be wife truly is, and I am looking forward to every minute of it! Just goes to show how much you are willing to give for the ones that you love!

Until Next Time


-Francis P.

Another blog respond:

            This essay was written by Judy Brady and published in 1972 in Ms. Magazine.  The essay begins with the author talking about a time where a male friend of hers was coming of a recent divorce and now he is looking for a new wife.  The author then begins to contemplate about this and then says that she too would a like to have a “wife”.  For the rest of the essay, the author greatly details all the things that would be necessary for the ideal wife to have.  The kind of wife that will provide every kind of support, need, and want of the other spouse.  Additionally, the author claimed that they would want the ability to replace this wife at anytime if desired.  After this, the author leaves this final message: “My God, who wouldn’t want a wife?” Connections (109).

            When I read this, I was amazed about how the author was able to detail every little thing that a “wife” has to do for her spouse.  What the author does in her essay is bring up an aged mentality, which \ actually still somewhat exists today, about what the ideal spouse is.  She speaks in sarcasm, of course, through her last sentence.  What I felt she was doing was detailing the qualities of a slave.  One who is maid, mother, wife, server, worker, and sexual provider for her spouse, who is basically the equivalent of a master.  I, for one, think the time for such things are long outdated and wrongful.  In my opinion, a married couple should work, live, support, and love each other together as a unit to maintain a more balanced relationship.

"The Human Cost of An Illiterate Society"- Jonathan Kozol

In Jonathan Kozol's "The Human Cost of An Illiterate Society"(1985), he talks about the many injustices that illiterate people in today's society encounter. He explains how these people are forced to just "go with the flow" for lack of a better phrase because they can't discern for themselves the right decisions. He brings up the fact the majority of these people can not vote, and the ones that do vote, vote for " a face, a smile, or a style, not for a mind or character or body of beliefs,"(93). They vote this way because they can not read, nor can they understand the candidates platform, thereby electing potentially the wrong candidate. The sad part about it is, that very few literate people, take the time out to assist those who do not understand. The literate take for granted the educations that they have receive, when there are so many other people in the USA who do anything for the chance to be even half as literate as they are. Instead of offering help, the literate pick on and judge those who aren't as educated them which has in turn deferred the illiterate for even asking for help or assistance out of embarrassment. Kozol's essay has really caused me to open my eyes. I knew there were illiterate people in the world, but I did not know however, that it went as deep as affecting these people's everyday lives. I don't know what I would do if I could not choose what I wanted to eat off of a restaurant menu or was forced to just go along with the majority because I didn't know any better. To know that there are women out there who have went in for a tubiligation and come out with a hysterectomy due to lack of knowledge of document signing is really upsetting. If only the possessed the skills to decipher what they were signing, they would have come out with the correct procedure being done. I found this essay quite informative and upsetting at the same time. I don't want to believe that this is the case in our country , but when the evidence is all around me...what really is left for me to say?

Until next time...........



-Francis P

"Black Men and Public Space" - Brent Staples

Black Men and Public Space is an essay about a young African-American man’s experience during his years as a graduate student in Chicago.  The man is none other than the author himself, Brent Staples.  In his essay, he details the issue of his placement in the community and his appearance had a great, but negative, effect on the people there.  He provides an example of an incident where he was just walking by someone, a white woman, who took his strolling by her as stalking.  Fearing for her safety, she gave Staples a few awkward glances before quickly taking off.  Staples also tells of how he could hear the sounds of shutting doors and windows as he casually continued his walk and contemplating his situation. 

            Staples, a man who appears to be of a pacifist nature, felt disappointed and embarrassed about how some people could just easily judge him based upon his appearance.  While understanding of their point-of-view and their feelings, he still felt bothered that his very existence in their presence would ignite such fear and resentment toward him.  Brent understood this all too well, as he explains how he, all too often, had to witness how the “tough-guy” image and criminal mentality installed in young black men often let to prison, death, or both.   This was something he wanted to avoid being associated with and he had made significant effort to do so.  It wasn’t until he started openly adapting certain habits that people would begin to tolerate his being in their presence. By reading the beginning of the story I felt immediately sorry for this guy. Prejudice is the basic of human classification and different treatment based on their outside appearance. But how is it possible to see the thoughts and his believes of somebody just be seeing him walking? I think that is impossible. For sure there are tendencies that you can assume how people are thinking but you never know until you know the person. With the believe that every person has something good in mind you are more likely to experience the positive side of the people and you will get treated way more friendly. I think that is important to find real friends and having a happy and satisfied life.

38 Who Saw Murder Didn't Call the Police by Martin Gansberg

In Martin Gansberg's story of the tragic murder of Ms. Genovese, he is explaining how society has evolved. The citzens of the neighborhood just watched as the helpless woman was repeatedly stabbed out in public over a 30 min time period. Genovese screamed "[...] help me!" (p12) as people just watched her die. Witnesses claimed they didnt know why they didn't call the police. I think its wrong to ignore such a violent act. It reminds me of the show "what would you do?" and it sort of makes us see what people would do in certain situations. Society is full of violence and people may not want to get involved but I think its kind of ignorant to bypass such things going on. It still needs more appeal for courage to stand up for your believes in right and wrong.

THE DEER AT PROVIDENCIA: ANNE DILLARD

In the narrative it speaks of such painful visions of humans and animals in such horrible pain. Annie Dillard writes this to show the suffering that animals and humans go through, and why such sufferings may exist. She explains as she goes on a trip to observe the native tribes, she is moved by such a scene. The scene was of a deer tied up, helpless and struggling to eacape. It was hung in a tree with only one leg free to barely relieve the rope that was tied so tightly around its' neck. I hate seeing anyone or thing suffer, but we can't really stop it. There's no cure found yet for certain diseases, and u can't control careless accidents, crime, or nature. I try to look at it as the only way we all can adapt and evolve to be better suited people.

Behind the Formaldehyde Curtain by Jessica Mitford

Behind the Formaldehyde is an excerpt from an exposé called The American Way of Death (1963) by Jessica Mitford.  It contains details on the process of embalming, what is done during the process, and what is used during the process.  An example is used to help with the explanation of the process of embalming, which can be defined as forestalling decomposition of a human corpse and making it suitable for public display at a funeral.  The example is used in the attempt to connect to the readers and show them how a deceased human’s body is expensively prepared for a funeral ceremony.  The author greatly details each and every action is taken during the embalming phase from the fixing of tissue, the draining of blood, to the replacement of missing body parts.  The author also mentions the continued restoration process taken post-embalmment.  The author then finishes by explaining how the body is then wheeled to the slumber room where the finishing touches are made to make the cadaver ready for viewership.

            After reading this excerpt, I was indeed impressed on how the author was able to detail each step taken during embalming.  I had to look up what embalming was to get a proper understanding, but after finding that out, I was easily able to get at what the author was trying to get across.  The author’s heavy detail on the many actions taken during the process of embalmment and what was used during really helps one understand how expensive such a process could be.  This perspective is also drawn from the part where the author compares embalming to cosmetic surgery.  Knowing how expensive cosmetic surgery is, helped me to understand the author’s point-of-view on the subject and it aided me in seeing how the author would probably urge people to seek alternatives on how to prepare the deceased for their final farewell.

"How to Mark a Book" by Mortimer Adler

In Adler's essay "How to Mark a Book" (1940), he proclaims that, "Full ownership of a book comes when you make it a part of yourself, and the best way to make yourself a part of it is by writing in it," (Adler). To say that this goes against everything I was taught when I was younger would be an understatement. I can remember teachers declaring WWIII if they saw an inch of a pencil mark in our text books. I can even remember kids being put in time out for writing in books that weren't "made for writing in." It wasn't until Freshman year in college that I was told it was acceptable, and sometimes necessary, to write in textbooks. At first I was a little apprehensive, but now I completely understand why Adler and my professors deemed it necessary to write in the books. If you write in the book as you're reading, it forces you to grasp a better concept of what you are taking in, whereas the average reader will skim or speed read through the text and not really come away with much from it. You can better appreciate the author and the text if you get a good understanding of what the text truly means. 

Although I did find Adler just a tad bit obsessive with his point, I completely, 100% agree with him. As a big reader myself, I find it helpful to jot a note here or a scribble there. It helps me to remember any questions that I may have while I'm reading. And if I'm reading with a group I can always come back to the question and I won't forget. Although I  don't feel as passionately about the subject as Adler, I do encourage people to jot down little notes just to help keep yourself on track, But HEY....TO EACH HIS OWN!!!!! Until next time my soul hungry readers........

IM OUT!!!!!!

-Francis