Wife 177428 225901380 2008-07-15T22:53:06Z Flammingo 1194333 rv vand {{otheruses}} {{Close Relationships}} A '''wife''' is a [[female]] spouse, or participant in a [[marriage]], or [[civil union]] or [[civil partnership]]. ==Origin and etymology== The term originated from the [[Middle English]] ''wif'', from Old English ''wīf'', [[woman]], wife, from Germanic * ''wībam'', woman, related to Modern German ''Weib'' (woman, wife),<ref>[http://gaer27.uni-trier.de/CLL/Frouwe/weib.html Etymology of “Weib”]</ref> from the Indo-European root ghwībh-; ''wīb'', meaning veiled or clothed, referred to the [[Veil#Wedding veils|wedding veils]].<ref>[http://www.bartleby.com/61/14/W0151400.html American Heritage Dictionary on “wife”]</ref>. The original meaning of “wife” as simply “woman”, unconnected with marriage, is preserved in words like “[[midwife]]” and “[[fishmonger|fishwife]]”. ==Related terminology== Although “wife” seems to be a close term to [[bride]], the latter is a female participant in a [[wedding]] ceremony, while a wife is a married woman after the wedding, during her marriage. Her partner, if male, was known as the [[bridegroom]] during the wedding, and within the marriage is called her [[husband]]. Upon marriage, she or her family may have brought her husband a [[dowry]], or the husband or his family may have needed to pay a [[bride price]] to the family of his bride, or both were exchanged between the families; the dowry not only supported the establishment of a household, but also served as a condition that if the husband committed grave offences upon his wife, the dowry had to be returned to the wife or her family; for the time of the marriage, they were made [[inalienable]] by the husband.<ref>Britannica 2005, ''dowry''</ref> A former wife whose spouse is deceased is a [[widow]], and may be left with a [[dower]] (often a third or a half of his [[Estate (law)|estate]]) to support her as [[dowager]].<ref>[http://m-w.com/dictionary/dower Merriam-Webster, ''dower'']</ref> Wife refers especially to the institutionalized form in relation to the spouse and offspring, unlike [[mother]], a term that puts a woman into the context of her children. Also compare the similar sounding [[midwife]], a person assisting in childbirth (“Mother midnight” emphasizes to a midwife’s power over life and death).<ref>[http://m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?va=midwife Merriam-Webster on Midwife], and [[Britannica]], ''midwife''</ref> <!--this mentions the term to distinguish it from other terms--> A wife may, in some cultures and times, share the title of her husband, without having gained that title by her own right.<ref>[http://www.uae.gov.ae/Government/women.htm Sharing the husband’s title]</ref> ==Differences in cultures== :''The various divisions of the following chapters share the previous terminology in [[English language]], notwithstanding religious and cultural, but also customary differences.'' ==Antiquity== Many traditions like the wedding ring and a dower, dowry and bride price have long traditions in antiquity. The exchange of any item or value goes back unto the oldest sources, and the wedding ring likewise was always used as a symbol for keeping faith to a person. ==Christianity== ===Historical status=== Christianity or, more generally, Western culture, that is Western Europe and also many of their former colonies, were guided by the [[Bible]] in regard to their view on the position of a wife in society as well as her marriage. This image changed considerably in the age of [[Modernity]]. In the [[Middle Ages]] and [[Early Modern]] history, it was unusual to marry out of love,<ref>William C. Horne, Making a heaven of hell: the problem of the companionate ideal in English marriage, poetry, 1650-1800 Athens (Georgia), 1993</ref> though it became an ideal in literature.<ref>Frances Burney, Evelina, Lowndes 1778, and Seeber, English Literary History of the eighteenth century, Weimar 1999</ref> Women were not expected to have any property:<ref>Elizabeth M. Craik, Marriage and property, Aberdeen 1984</ref> they only were given a [[dowry]] by their [[parent]]s to give her husband<ref>Gail MacColl and Carol McD. Wallace, To Marry An English Lord, p166-7, ISBN 0-89480-939-3</ref> and [[inheritance|inherited]] only if there were no male [[offspring]].<ref>[http://www.futureofchildren.org/information2827/information_show.htm?doc_id=290368 Future of the Children]</ref> Unable to procure for herself, a woman had to submit to the husband chosen to avoid problems ([[prostitution]], or a criminal career,<ref>Daniel Defoe, Moll Flanders: theoretical preface</ref>), which has been dealt with extensively in literature, where the most important reason for the lack of equal rights was the denial of equal education for women.<ref>for the 18th and 19th century, which contained much criticism of these facts, see also [[Mary Wollstonecraft]], [[A Vindication of the Rights of Women]], [[Boston]] 1792</ref> The situation was assessed by the [[England|English]] conservative moralist Sir [[William Blackstone]]: “The husband and wife are one, and the husband is the one.”<ref>William Blackstone, Commentaries upon the Laws of England</ref> The situation changed only in the [[Married Women’s Property Act 1882]]. Though the wife was generally expected to support the [[political faction]] favoured by the husband, satirists like [[Joseph Addison]] suggested ironically that the marriage contract might allow the wives to join the political faction independently in order to suit the expectations of their environment, or their [[peer group]].<ref>[[Joseph Addison]], ''[[The Spectator]]'', No.81</ref> Until late in the 20th century, women could in some cultures or times sue a man for [[wreath money]] when he took her [[virginity]] without taking her as his wife.<ref>Brockhaus 2004, ''Kranzgeld ''.</ref> If a woman did not want to marry, another option was entering a [[convent]] as a [[nun]]<ref>Though cloisters’ practices were not bound by modern national borders, see sources [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2005/is_3_33/ai_61372238 for Spain], [http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/journal_of_womens_history/v014/14.3mcgough.html for Italy], and [http://www.ianpaisley.org/article.asp?ArtKey=family for Britain]</ref> to become a “bride to Jesus”,<ref>[http://jesus-messiah.com/charlotte/html/white-veil.html (Taking) The White Veil]</ref> a state in which her chastity would be protected<ref>[http://jesus-messiah.com/charlotte/html/white-veil.html (Taking) The White Veil]</ref> and the woman was economically protected as well.<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04060a.htm The welfare of the cloister members was ensured by the [[Catholic Church]] and the [[Pope]].]</ref> Both a wife and a nun wore veils, which proclaimed their state of protection by the rights of marriage.<ref>Silvia Evangelisti, Wives, Widows, And Brides Of Christ: Marriage And The Convent In The Historiography Of Early Modern Italy, [http://journals.cambridge.org/production/action/cjoGetFulltext?fulltextid=5618 Cambridge 2000]</ref> ===Contemporary status=== In the [[20th century]], the role of the wife in Western marriage changed in two major ways; the first was the breakthrough from an “institution to [[companion]]ate marriage”;<ref>”Companionship marriage” and “companionate marriage” are synonyms (the latter being the older one), although the term usually refers to a relationship based on equality, it might instead refer to a marriage with mutual interest in their children, [http://www.futureofchildren.org/information2827/information_show.htm?doc_id=290368 ]</ref> for the first time, wives became distinct [[juristic person|legal entities]], and were allowed their own property and allowed to sue. Until then, wife and husband were a single legal entity, but only the husband was allowed to exercise this right. The second change was the drastic alteration of family life, when in the 1960s wives began to work outside their home, and with the social acceptance of [[divorce]]s the single-parent family, and [[stepfamily]] or “blended family” as a more “individualized marriage”.<ref>[http://www.futureofchildren.org/information2827/information_show.htm?doc_id=290368 Stepfamily as individualized marriage]</ref> Today, a woman may wear a [[wedding ring]] in order to show her status as a wife.<ref>Howard, Vicki. “A ‘Real Man’s Ring”: Gender and the Invention of Tradition.” Journal of Social History. Summer 2003 pp837-856</ref> In Western countries today<!--like the [[United Kingdom]] pro KEEP:source from that area, pro HIDE: Source underlines Western tradition exemplified by a uk, non-national source-->, married women may have [[education]], a [[profession]] and take time off from their work in a legally procured system of [[ante-natal care]], statutory [[maternity leave]], and they may get [[maternity pay]] or a maternity [[allowance]].<ref>[http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/WorkAndFamilies/DG_10026556 Maternity pay and allowance], and [http://www.workandfamily.nsw.gov.au/frequently+asked+questions.html work and family guide]</ref> The status of marriage, as opposed to unmarried pregnant women, allows the [[spouse]] to be responsible for the child, and to speak on behalf of his/her wife; a husband is also responsible for the wife’s child in states where he is automatically assumed to be the biological father.<ref>Cuckoo’s egg in the nest, Spiegel 07, 2007</ref> Vice versa, a wife has more legal authority in some cases when she speaks on behalf of a spouse than she would have if they were not married, e.g. when her spouse is in a coma after an accident, a wife may have the right of advocacy.<ref>The restrictions of her abilities to do this vary immensely even within a legal system, see [http://www.seniorlaw.com/fishman.htm case NY vs. Fishman], 2000</ref> If they [[divorce]], she also might receive - or pay - [[alimony]] (see [[Law and divorce around the world]]). ==Islam== [[Women in Islam]] have a range of rights and obligations (see main article [[Rights and obligations of spouses in Islam]]. Marriage takes place on the basis of a [[Islamic marriage contract|marriage contract]], and for a husband to have more than one wife is very rare.<ref> The New Encyclopedia of Islam(2002), AltaMira Press. ISBN 0-7591-0189-2 p.477</ref> Even today, in some Muslim societies the father may decide whose wife his daughter is going to be, and possibly even force her into the marriage under threat of murdering her, although this custom is not based on religion but tradition.<ref>Spiegel 07, 2007</ref> Beating his wife, however, is defined as a husband’s right in most schools of Islam, but is strongly discouraged by [[hadiths]].{{cite quran|4|34}}. Women in general are supposed to wear specific clothes, as stated by the [[hadith]], like the [[hijab]], which may take different sizes depending on the Muslim culture, but they are not obliged to do so.<ref>[http://www.renaissance.com.pk/novq12y1.html Clothes]</ref> The husband must pay a ''[[mahr]]'' to the bride, which is similar to the [[dower]].<ref>[[Qur’an]] verse 4;4</ref> Though for wives there seem to be no external signs, other than being allowed to reveal their entire head to her husband, which is not only stated by the [[Qur’an]] but known by even older [[custom]]s.<ref> Yvonne Haddad and John Esposito. Islam, Gender, and Social Change, Published 1998. Oxford University Press, US. ISBN 0-19-511357-8.</ref> [[Image:Muslim wedding in India.jpg|300px|thumb|A riverside Muslim wedding in India.]] The situation of a wife in Muslim society is controversial: Some groups criticize the condition of wives as being “miserable”,<ref>[http://www.alinaam.org.za/library/marital/srwife.htm miserable quote]</ref> and propose intolerance to the rule that a husband may beat his wife.<ref>[http://www.islamawareness.net/Wife/ Wives in Islam controversy]</ref> Based on the [[Islamic fundamentalism|fundamentals]] of Islam, they emphasize that according to the Scripture, “the Prophet(s) said: “Do not beat your wife” and “Do not strike your wife in the face.”<ref>Dr. Haddad, [[Damascus]], [http://www.sunnah.org/msaec/articles/responsibilities_husband.htm Responsibilities of a husband]</ref> Traditionally, the wife has had a high esteem in Islam as a protected, chaste person that manages the household and the family. Progressive Muslims today may also agree on a perfectly equal relationship.<ref>Heba G. Kotb M.D., [http://www2.hu-berlin.de/sexology/GESUND/ARCHIV/kotb2.htm Sexuality in Islam], PhD Thesis, Maimonides University, 2004</ref> The majority, however, is vastly different; not only does [[sura]] four, the [[An-Nisa]], allow to beat a wife, but in [[Germany]], a Muslim won a case in [[Frankfurt]] when his wife wanted an immediate divorce (additional to the [[separation]] already in place, without the one years’ respite) due to [[domestic violence]]; her request was rejected, based on the argument that it was “custom” and “based on Islamic law”. Critics commented the [[verdict]] legitimized beating one’s wife (see source); in another case, murder of someone for “causing dishonor” ended in sentence of [[homicide]] instead, because the person on trial was a Muslim brother killing his sister.<ref>Both cases are described in the main article of [[Der Spiegel]] (13), 2007, p.23f, cf. [http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,473017,00.html summary]</ref> Traditionally, Muslim married women are not distinguished from unmarried women by an outward symbol (such as a wedding ring). However women’s wedding rings have recently been adopted in the past thirty years from the Western culture.<ref>[http://www.zawaj.com/articles/westernized.html Westernized Muslims]</ref> Traditionally and most commonly, the only sign of the marriage is the [[nikah]],<ref>[http://nikahsearch.com/marriage/marriage.htm Nikah in marriage]</ref> the written marriage contract. ==Hinduism== In [[Hindi]], wife means a women who shares every thing in this world with her husband and he does the same, including their identity. Decisions are ideally made in mutual consent. A wife usually takes care of anything inside her household, including the family’s health, the children’s education, a parent’s needs. In [[Tamil language|Tamil]], a wife is known as a “Manaivee”. “Manai” means “house”, and “manaivee” “head of a household”. The majority of Hindu marriages in South India even now are arranged marriages, which means parents that have a son will search for parents with a daughter, through relatives, neighbourhoods, or even brokers. Once they find a suitable family (family of same caste, culture and financial status), they proceed with discussions directly. In the past decades, a marriage out of love has become a rivalling model to the arranged marriage. Indian law has recognised marital rape, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse of a woman by her husband as crimes. The Britannica mentions that “Until quite recently, the only property of which a Hindu woman was the absolute owner was her strīdhana, consisting mainly of wedding gifts and gifts from relatives.”<ref>Britannica, ''Legal limitations on marriage (from family law)''</ref> Commonly, a wife wears a red dot on her forehead to show her status as a married woman. ==Buddhism and Chinese folk religions== [[China]]’s family laws were changed by the [[Communism|Communist]] revolution; and in 1950, the [[People’s Republic of China]] enacted a comprehensive marriage law including provisions giving the spouses equal rights with regard to ownership and management of marital property.<ref>Britannica 2004, ''Legal limitations on marriage (from family law)''</ref> ==Other== In Japan, before enactment of the Meiji Civil Code of 1898, all of the woman’s property such as land or money passed to her husband except for personal clothing and a mirror stand.<ref>Britannica, ''Legal limitations on marriage (from family law)''</ref> ==See also== {{wiktionarypar|wife}} *[[Marriage]] *[[Husband]] ==References== {{reflist|2}} <!--Categories--> [[Category:Family]] [[Category:Marriage]] [[Category:Women]] [[Category:Gender]] <!--Other languages--> [[br:Gwreg]] [[cy:Gwraig]] [[de:Ehefrau]] [[id:istri]] [[is:Eiginkona]] [[ja:妻]] [[nn:hustru]] [[ru:Жена]] [[simple:Wife]] [[ta:மனைவி]] [[uk:Дружина (жінка)]] [[yi:ווייב]] [[zh:妻子]]