Social Media Shows More Women Are Taking the "TradWife" Approach

If social media platforms like TikTok is any guide, it appears that more women are taking a traditional approach to romantic partnerships: Some say they are even opting out of the workforce entirely in favor of the so-called "soft life," centered around their home, their family and their own wellbeing.

This is now known as "tradwife," one of social media’s growing trends. It shows a curated look at women embracing domesticity as the antithesis of what other young women are experiencing, who are "working hard and barely scraping by," said Casey Lewis, a social media trend forecaster.

"The thing about tradwives is that it feels very different; it is an escape from a lot of people’s reality," she said.

The jealous type will say it’s a facade. However, evidence shows this is something many women are actually doing, and it’s a realistic lifestyle to aspire to.

Notable tradwives like 22-year-old former model Nara Smith and TikTok star Estee Williams can be seen cooking, cleaning and showcasing their picture-perfect lives as stay-at-home moms.

Ivy Van Dusen, another social media influencer, juggles her domestic duties as a mom to two boys with content creation, running a TikTok page with more than 119,000 followers. She says that even when she was studying broadcast journalism in college, she had always dreamed of motherhood.

"My brand is embracing motherhood and enjoying motherhood," said Van Dusen, a self-proclaimed tradwife. "A lot of people, unfortunately, have this negative view of the way people used to live," she said. "I was really close with both my grandmothers and even my great grandmother, and they were just the coolest women. When I hear homemakers, when I hear traditional women, I think of really amazing women."

There is a disillusionment taking hold among younger Americans, studies show. Generation Z is increasingly less motivated by the daily grind and adopting a more relaxed approach to their long-term financial security, according to a recent Prosperity Index study by Intuit.

In the current climate, newly minted adults between the ages of 18 and 25 are more interested in experiences that promote personal growth and emotional well-being, the report found.

Young women, whether they’re married or not, are expressing a desire to "take a step out of the professional rat race," Lewis said.

"There’s a lot of pressure on young women," she said. Being a stay-at-home girlfriend or tradwife is "an excuse to step back and do less."