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Wife

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A wife is a female participant in a marriage.

Origin and Etymology

Middle English wif, from Old English ghwībh, from Old English wīf, woman, from Germanic *wbam, woman, related to German Weib (as a single noun now pejorative)[1], from wīb, .[2] meaning veiled, clothed, refering to the wedding veils.

Although "wife" seems to be a close term to bride, the latter is the participant in the wedding ceremony, while a wife is the status of a married woman after the wedding, during her marriage.

Christian Europe

In the Middle Ages and Early Modern European history, it was unusual to marry out of love, though it became an ideal in literature. Women were not expected to have any property: they only were given a dowry by their parents to give her husband, and inherited only if there were no male offsprings. Unable to procure for herself, she was forced to submit to the husband chosen to avoid problems (prostitution, or a criminal carreer) or to buy access into a cloister as a nun, also called a "bride to Jesus", consequently being a "bride of Jesus" to support her chastity, and being economically protected.[3]

Both the "wife" and the "nun" wore veils, which was meant to show their state of protection by the rights of marriage.

The tasks of the wife in history

In modern societies, 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.[4] The status of marriage opposed to unmarried pregnant women allows the husband to be responsible for the child, and to speak on behalf of his wife. Vice versa, a wife has more legal authority if she speaks on behalf of her husband than an unmarried couple.

Islam

A muslim wife, or wives, may wear specific clothes to show their marital status according to the Hijab. The hijab may take different sizes depending on the culture.

The situation of a wife in muslim society is controversial. Some groups criticize the condition of wives as being "miserable"[5], and intolerance to the rule that a husband may beat his wife[6]. Dr. Haddad in Damascus emphasized that "The Prophet (s) said: "Do not beat your wife." He also said: "Do not strike your wife in the face."[7] However, the wife has a high esteem in Islam as a protected, chastice person that manages the household and the family. Progressive Muslims may also agree on a perfectly equal relationship.

References

  1. ^ http://gaer27.uni-trier.de/CLL/Frouwe/weib.html
  2. ^ American Heritage Dictionary on "wife"
  3. ^ Nun
  4. ^ http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/WorkAndFamilies/DG_10026556
  5. ^ http://www.alinaam.org.za/library/marital/srwife.htm
  6. ^ http://www.islamawareness.net/Wife/
  7. ^ http://www.sunnah.org/msaec/articles/responsibilities_husband.htm

See also

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