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MEANING Oppression is built into the system and I as the
white American male receive the benefits of this system. I don't want
to give them up.

***

Text 3

WHY I WANT A WIFE

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By Judy Syfers

I belong to that classification of people known as wives. I am a
Wife. And, not altogether incidentally, I am a mother.
Not too long ago a male friend of mine appeared on the screen
fresh from a recent divorce. He had one child who is, of course, with
his ex-wife. He is looking for another wife. As I thought about him I
was ironing one evening, it suddenly occurred to me that I, too, would
like to have a wife. Why do I want a wife?
I would like to go back to school so that I can become
economically independent, support myself, and, if need be, support
those dependent upon me. I want a wife who will work and send me
to school. And while I am going to school I want a wife to take care
of my children. I want a wife to keep track of the children's doctor
and dentist appointments. And to keep track of mine, too. I want a
wife to make sure my children eat properly and are kept clean. I want
a wife who will wash the children's clothes and keep them mended. I
want a wife who is a good nurturant attendant to my children, who
arranges for their schooling, makes sure that they have an adequate
social life with their peers, takes them to the park, the zoo, etc. i want
a wife who takes care of the children when they are sick, a wife who
arranges to be around when the children need special care, because,
of course, I cannot miss classes at school. My wife must arrange to
lose time at work and not lose the job. It may mean a small cut in my
wife's income from time to time, but I guess I can tolerate that.
Needless to say, my wife will arrange and pay for the care of the
children while my wife is working.

1
Текст друкується за виданням Why I Want a Wife. // Ms., Vol. 1
(December 31, 1971).

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