The idea that women belong in the kitchen and have children may seem a little outdated in 2024. But there are still plenty of people who feel this way, as evidenced by what’s trending on TikTok. The concept of “trad wives” is popular on the app. Here’s what you need to know.
What is a trad wife?
A trad wife is an abbreviation for a traditional wife, or a traditional housewife. There are currently many videos on TikTok in which women glorify the lifestyle of a traditional housewife. Traditional gender roles are emphasized and the house becomes the domain of the woman. Trad wives are women who can completely identify with this life. On TikTok they can be found in different variations. One woman dresses very modestly and the other chooses to grow all her own food in her garden. They have one thing in common: their videos look very welcoming and aesthetically pleasing. This makes their lifestyle suddenly seem very refreshing, while it is actually quite old-fashioned.
Are trad wives bad?
The trad wives trend is not received with much positivity by everyone. For example, there is criticism of the image that the women create in their videos, which makes it seem as if this lifestyle actually offers them more freedom. In addition, the concept of trad wives is associated with the far right and very conservative ideas. In addition, the idea of trad wives is often linked to religion. You do not necessarily have to be religious to become a trad wife, yet many popular trad wives on TikTok are religious. One of the most popular content creators who falls under this trend, Nara Smith, is herself Mormon.
@naraazizasmith
But is the whole idea of a trad wife, and the trend on TikTok, really a bad thing? Not necessarily, if you take the trend with a grain of salt. Of course, there is nothing wrong with wanting a traditional life. A little media literacy is only necessary when you watch these videos and start idealizing. On social media, people only show what they want to show and this is often done with a specific purpose. So don’t be enchanted by the ideal image that your For You Page presents you with and look for ways to incorporate elements of the trad wife lifestyle into your own life if you want to. But of course you really don’t have to become a submissive housewife to feel a bit like Nara Smith.
