A "tradwife," short for "traditional wife," is a woman who embraces traditional gender roles, with a focus on homemaking, supporting her husband, raising children, and maintaining the household. This lifestyle often emphasizes values like family, stability, and community. The term gained traction in the early 2020s as a social media-based subculture, with women showcasing their embrace of domesticity on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
The tradwife movement is not without controversy. Some view it as a celebration of femininity and a simpler way of life, while critics argue that it promotes outdated gender roles, reinforces financial dependence on men, and undermines progress toward gender equality. Some researchers have noted that tradwife aesthetics have been associated with far-right politics. Despite the varying political views among tradwives, the movement often idealizes a romanticized past, echoing sentiments of wanting to return to a time when the United States was more globally dominant.
