Traditional or Toxic?

By Srihita Madiraju April 2, 2025

While scrolling through social media, millions of users around the globe encounter the same video: a woman, hair styled to perfection, wearing a modest sundress, moving gracefully through a sunlit kitchen, and effortlessly cooking for her family —all with a smile on her face. Outside, her young children are frolicking through a beautiful flower-filled garden. As she sets the table, her breadwinner husband walks in, briefcase in hand, greeted by the smell of a homemade meal and a kiss on the cheek. This is not a scene from a cliché 1920s silent film: it is one of many videos promoting the growing and toxic “tradwife” trend. The trend promotes a version of femininity based on rejecting modern feminism, submission to husbands and homemaking.

Art by Dana Lim

Feminism is often mischaracterized as solely women holding high-power positions in male-dominated fields, avoiding dependence on men and avoiding the traditional nuclear family. In reality, feminism should  focus on women gaining greater autonomy and freedom to choose their path, be it in their careers or otherwise. Although tradwives take advantage of the concept of feminism being a choice, they twist the movement on its head. Their overromanticization of the patriarchy while expressing disapproval inhibits the work of activists. Promoting unhealthy standards for women and glamorizing tradwife life ais not feminist but rather backwards and oppressive, nostalgic of the 1950s—an era where women were objectified and There lies a stark contrast in being a homemaker or stay at home mother and being a tradwife. 

“My mother has been a homemaker for most of my childhood, but she does not care about being a perfect housewife or being strictly traditional. When I grew up, she liked being at home and more able to take care of me and my siblings. Most importantly, she never forced other women to follow the same lifestyle—she just wants to support me in pursuing a career in what I am passionate about.” Junior Isra Celik said. 

Tradwife influencers like Estee C. Williams and Hannah Neeleman, whose content ranges from perfect daily routines to tips on how to attract ‘provider men,’ reflect the trend’s problematic nature.  However, these influencers’ backgrounds do not always align with their preaching. Many of them come from independent career paths stemming from technology or social media. Even more hypocritical is engagement in sex work combined with the promotion of a tradwife lifestyle. A large number of tradwives juggle the lifestyle while being OnlyFans creators—such as tradwife creator Monica Huldt— illustrating their hypocrisy as they slutshame ‘modern’ women for promiscuity or behaving ‘unladylike’.

“The tradwife trend is an unrealistic lifestyle choice. Many people cannot even afford to live like a tradwife financially, and their over romanticization of the husband being the breadwinner is hypocritical when they themselves make money off of social media or adult entertainment,” Junior Anisha Natarajan said. 

The trend may cause younger girls to develop false standards of womanhood, especially as tradwives raise their children with their suffocating traditional gender roles which feminists have worked hard to break over decades. 

However, tradwives are not all extremists or hypocrites. Advocates argue that the movement contributes to stronger marriages and family bonds through division of labor and reduced stress, and can even create increased feelings of fulfillment for couples. While this may be true in some cases, a study from a National Survey conducted on over 50,000 married couples in 2008 found that only 18% of ‘traditional’ couples reported that they were happy in their relationship—in contrast with the 81% of egalitarian couples. However, the rose-tinted glasses that many tradwife adherents wear should be taken off. The truth is that even in the 50s, around 31% of all women 14 years of age and over were in the labor force contrary to what many nostalgic tradwives may think. Nostalgia for a false reality ultimately fosters more toxicity in society. American women find an appeal in retreating into a romanticized past while ignoring the difficulties of being a woman in modern day society. Hopefully, society will recognize the harmful effects of this return to 'tradition' and prevent a further rise in popularity.

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About the Contributors

Srihita Madiraju

Writer

Srihita Madiraju is a Junior at Leland High School and a staff writer. She enjoys reading and writing and this is her first year in journalism. She enjoys dancing, going to the beach, and hanging out with her friends.

Dana Lim

Artist

Dana Lim is a Senior at Leland High School and the Charger Account's Art Director. She loves the creative aspect of art and this is her fourth year in journalism. She likes listening to music, nights out with friends, and cats.