As a woman there are several qualities you desire in a man, stereotypically tall, dark and handsome is the “ideal” guy, but this is all down to individual tastes. Qualities in a person can change over time depending on factors such as age – for example: at 17 what you want is different at 27, 37 etc. It also depends on where you’re at in your personal life including your life goals.
Goals are important for shaping a person. Just because you’re married your dreams don’t stop or settle down. Fairy tales never focus on life after you’ve received the glass slipper and dream guy, so how much of your identity do you actually keep? Why is the beauty of a woman and man’s qualities enhanced in these fairy tales but not vice versa?
Being the wife (or girlfriend) of a footballer gets you the label of a “WAG” which comes with negative connotations and with more shows such as “Married to Medicine” and “The Housewives of…” being produced are we now promoting women who seem to have their own set of goals and professional careers and ignoring these aspects whilst focusing on them being the wife of…?’
Some people like to live in an old-fashioned patriarchal way – with the man as the breadwinner and woman living as a traditional housewife, while many disagree and believe a woman can now have a family and career – either way there is no right or wrong as it is down to the individual. However, women who manage to have a career for their own are often not praised as much in the media. Especially when married to someone of a high profession.
Once vows are exchanged and you’re embracing your new surname, do you become a reflection of your husband? How much of a presentation are you of your partner? Does this compromise any part of your own individual identity and who you are? Is there room to still have your own profession, goals and values or does the media fixate on women who are “living off” their husband’s titles