A woman is sharing her harrowing journey as a trad wife in a bid to warn other women against the lifestyle as it sees a rise in popularity.
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For Jennie Gage, this is a life she knows all too well – but one that the 49-year-old gracefully left behind after realising that she had become “trapped”.
Now, she’s urging young women not to get caught up in the trend.
“Do not ever become a trad wife,” the social media advocate warns.
“A man is not a plan – he can be your lover, boyfriend, roommate, husband, whatever – but he should never be your financial plan.
“No adult human should ever be dependent on another adult.
“The greatest tragedy in my story is that I’m smart, capable and hard-working.
“It’s a dangerous lifestyle that needs to stop being promoted.”
Jennie, from Arizona, US, was raised in a conservative Mormon family, where all the women were taught to stay at home, while the men brought home the bacon.
From a young age, she recalls being told that, as a woman, she was sent to Earth to be a wife and mother – nothing else.
And while this way of life was all she knew, Jennie had a different dream in mind.
She said: “I had conflicting emotions, as I loved having a big family, but I dreamed about working.
“I went to college and majored in pre-law classes with the hopes of becoming an international trade attorney.
“When I sat down with my guidance counsellor on the first day, he told me he was afraid that I was taking classes that weren’t right for a girl.
“I was switched to learning about dating and marriage, as well as child development, which made me furious.
“Even on dates, when I told boys what I wanted to actually do, they laughed at me.”
In 1995, Jennie met her ex-husband and on their 11th date, they tied the knot.
Jennie quickly fell into the role of being a housewife with the pair having four children, now aged 27, 23, 20, and 14.
I was doing all the laundry, ironing, cooking, childcare and grocery shopping.
Jennie Gage
“He gave us all the nice stuff; homes, cars and holidays.
“But I often laid in bed and cried.
“I was stressed and miserable.
“I longed to be happy and couldn’t understand why I wasn’t.”
Knowing something needed to change, in October 2018, Jenny left the Mormon faith and got a divorce.
Now, she’s hoping to raise awareness with her story to stop other women from making the same mistake.
She added: “I had so many fears of being alone, especially with young children, but I had no choice.
“I now wake up each day with purpose and passion.
“I work three different jobs, which I love, and I’m surviving.
“I was told that women are to be nurturers, not providers; but I’m proof that message is wrong.”
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