What is a Tradwife and How Often Do They Get Divorced?

• What is a tradwife?
• Characteristics
• Real and fictional examples
• Housewive vs. tradwife
• Why it's controversial
• Divorce rates & research
• Challenges
• References

You may have seen references on social media or the news about “tradwives” – a recent trend that embraces old-fashioned gender roles within a marriage. The modern twist? It’s wives choosing these submissive homemaker roles, even celebrating them and the fact that their husbands are dominant.

Why the backtrack, and how is it impacting marriage? First, let’s dig into the tradwife basics.

What is a tradwife?

A "tradwife" is short for "traditional wife." The term usually refers to women who embrace traditional gender roles within marriage, focusing on being homemakers, raising children, and supporting their husbands as the primary breadwinners. 

The tradwife lifestyle is often characterized by a return to values that were more common in the mid-20th century, where the wife’s primary role was centered around domestic duties, nurturing the family, and maintaining the household.

“Tradwife” doesn’t only apply to women. The husband-wife dynamic often occurs in same-sex couples, too.

Characteristics of a tradwife

Here are the roles a tradwife usually embraces, often displaying them publicly on social media.

• Homemaking: A tradwife assumes full-time management of the household, including cooking, cleaning, and other domestic tasks.
• Child-rearing: The tradwife takes on primary (sometimes sole) responsibility for raising and educating children.
• Supportive role: Providing emotional and practical support to their husbands is especially important for a tradwife – often to complement the husband’s role of financial provider.
• Traditional values: A belief in and adherence to traditional gender roles, often inspired by religious or cultural beliefs.

Real and fictional examples of tradwives

To paint a picture of the tradwife persona, here are some examples.

Real examples of tradwives

Alena Kate Pettitt: A prominent figure in the tradwife community, Alena is a British woman who promotes the tradwife lifestyle through her blog, "The Darling Academy." She emphasizes traditional femininity, homemaking, and submission to her husband as key elements of her lifestyle.

Influencers on social media: There are various influencers, particularly on Instagram and YouTube, who post content about living as tradwives. These women, and sometimes men embracing a wife role in a same-sex marriage, often highlight their commitment to traditional gender roles, homemaking, and family life.

Some popular tradwives on social media

Here are some accounts with content largely or solely devoted to the tradwife lifestyle, with their bios (quoted from August 2024).

• brit_cunningham: “✨mum life chaos✨cleaning, renovating, gardening & cooking. in my healed era.”
• ivyoutwest: “Traditional girl in a modern 🌎Mrs. Arizona '23 👑”
• _victoria_lit: “Adorably irritating is my persona🩵”
• hannahlee.yoder: “Curly haired, Jesus loving, dress wearing, farm living, homemaking gal ☀️🪴”
• mrsarialewis: “23 | Traditional Wife & Mama🤰Entrepreneur ✨️🌻 Empowering women to take back their roles! ✝️ saved by grace through faith”
• esteecwilliams: “❄️ Traditional Wife ❄️”

You can also visit the thetradwivesclub and tradwifeoriginal communities on Instagram.

Fictional examples of tradwives

1.  Betty Draper from Mad Men: Betty is a character who embodies the traditional 1960s housewife (but with a definite edge that blurs later in the series). Her story also explores the dissatisfaction and constraints of this role.
2.  June Cleaver from Leave It to Beaver: June is the quintessential 1950s housewife, always impeccably dressed, and devoted to her family and home. She represents the idealized version of a traditional wife and mother from that era.

These examples illustrate both the real-life adoption of the tradwife lifestyle and its depiction in media, often reflecting the complexities and societal expectations associated with traditional gender roles.

What is the difference between a housewife and a tradwife?

The terms "housewife" and "tradwife" both refer to women who primarily focus on domestic responsibilities, but they carry different connotations.

• Housewife: A woman who manages the household and takes care of family duties, often staying at home while her spouse works. It's a neutral term, describing the role without necessarily implying a particular set of beliefs or values.
• Tradwife: A wife who focuses on domestic duties and also embraces traditional gender roles that are more conservative and often an idealized version of marriage and womanhood. The wife is submissive to the husband and fulfills the role of homemaker out of ideological or religious commitment.

The key difference lies in the cultural and ideological implications: while a housewife may simply describe a role, a tradwife is often associated with a specific set of beliefs about gender roles and family life.

What is the controversy with the tradwife?

The concept of the "tradwife" is controversial because it represents a lifestyle that many view as a step backward in terms of gender equality. 

Supporters of the tradwife lifestyle see it as a choice to embrace traditional gender roles and focus on homemaking, child-rearing, and supporting their husbands. 

Critics argue that this lifestyle can reinforce outdated stereotypes, limit women's opportunities, and pressure women into conforming to a narrow, prescribed role. The controversy often centers around debates on feminism, personal choice, and societal expectations.

Divorce rates among tradwives and research findings

There isn’t a specific divorce rate for "tradwives" as it’s a recent term that isn’t formally categorized in demographic studies. But we can make some assumptions about marital satisfaction by examining research on traditional roles in a marriage.

Divorce rates are influenced by various factors, including shared values, economic stability, communication, and mutual respect. In some cases, couples who adhere to traditional roles may experience lower divorce rates if both partners are committed to these roles and share similar expectations. However, if one partner feels constrained by these roles or if there's a lack of support and understanding, it could lead to marital dissatisfaction, potentially increasing the likelihood of divorce.

Traditional marriages often involve a dynamic where the husband is dominant, and both partners find these roles natural and acceptable, though the imbalance is acknowledged. When the wife is dominant, it tends to be less acceptable due to a departure from traditional roles. 

Research indicates that couples adhering to traditional gender roles are generally less satisfied in their marriages compared to those who adopt more modern, androgynous roles, where both partners share traits typically seen as masculine and feminine, leading to greater marital satisfaction.

A 2018 study examined the relationship between gender norms and women's marriage dynamics from 1968 to 2012. Divorce initially rose with traditional norms but declined as norms became more egalitarian.

Another study explored how conflicts over gender norms between men and women affect marital outcomes. The results suggest that individuals may be less likely to marry or stay married when gender norm conflicts are present, as they have better alternatives. 

A 2005 study looked at the relationship between national divorce culture and gender equality in marriages across 22 countries. In countries where divorce is more accepted and common, marriages tend to have a more equal distribution of work between men and women. This supports the idea that the possibility of divorce gives women leverage to achieve greater equality within marriage.

Bottom line: as in most marriages, it’s up to the couple to find the roles that work for them. If a tradwife is truly content, the marriage can be healthy and satisfying. If not, the risk of divorce is high as it is in any marriage where one or both spouses feel unloved, disrespected, or unsupported.

Challenges tradwives face

Being a traditional wife is unappealing for many modern women, but it wouldn’t be a trend if many weren’t on board with it. Those who embrace it have extra challenges, both externally and internally as they navigate things like an imbalanced division of labor at home and disapproval from outsiders. 

Here are some keys to making it work:

• Compatibility: Success in these marriages depends on mutual agreement and satisfaction with the traditional roles.
• External factors: Economic pressures, societal changes, and evolving personal beliefs can challenge traditional marriages.
• Personal fulfillment: If a tradwife feels fulfilled in her role and her husband supports this lifestyle, the marriage may be stable. However, if either partner feels unfulfilled or constrained, it could lead to conflicts and potential separation or divorce.

In conclusion, the divorce rate among tradwives likely mirrors broader societal trends, influenced by the dynamics within the marriage rather than the adoption of traditional roles alone.

If you’re unhappy in a traditional marriage and want to explore your options, we are here to help. Schedule a free 15-minute info call or connect with our supportive community on Instagram. 

References