Creative task: Modern Guides for Good Wives

Some might say that the American Good Wife’s Guide from 1955, featured as the source text in the module “Woman in Society,” is a thing of the past—an outdated relic. It’s a historical curiosity showcasing a bygone era, something one might read for amusement, interpreting the advice as an anecdote or a fairy tale. But a cursory internet search reveals something entirely different. An article from Papilot titled: “A Guide for Beginners: How to be a good wife? What to do to make your husband crazy about you and not lose interest in you?” sounds like it’s lifted straight from a guide written a decade ago. “Above all, be feminine. Do you know that in winter, when we mostly wear long pants, most of us can go weeks without shaving our legs? Just think about how your husband feels when he wants to cuddle and caress your body… The armor of every newlywed wife is, above all, her femininity. It would be good to highlight it. Marriage doesn’t have to mena neglect. After all, you wouldn’t want to see your husband overweight, in unfashionable clothes, and with a disastrous haircut. So take a bath, grab a razor, apply skin balms, and style your hair. We guarantee that your husband will repeatedly tell you how beautiful you are. Surely you have tricks to quickly refresh your image without too much effort. Surprise your partner and remind him of what a beautiful wife he has.” Try exploring the topic yourself, delve into the internet, search for phrases like “good wife” or “homemaker.” Will you come across only historical source texts or also those written in the 21st century? Perhaps even from this year or month, potentially expressing discriminatory views on the duties of a wife?
Quote from the online article “A guide for Beginners: How to be a good wife? What to do to make your husband crazy about you and not lose interest in you?” [Trans.mine]: https://www.papilot.pl/zwiazki/slub-i-wesele/29718/poradnik-dla-poczatkujacych-jak-byc-dobra- Zona

Module: Woman in Society