Skip to main content

Post content has been hidden

To unblock this content, please click here

Danielle
Master June 2019

The Surrendered Wife

Danielle, on August 15, 2019 at 9:05 AM Posted in Married Life 4 92

Okay ladies, so I started reading a book. I am about half way through it, and honestly....I think it's great and provides some much needed perspective. BUT I also know it can be quite controversial in this day and age. However, you'd have to read it for yourself to see just how it explains everything. The title of the book isn't as "anti-feminism" as you might think. It's pretty empowering actually, but in a vulnerable way.

Backstory: I was raised by a very strong single independent woman. I did not have a good male role model in my life, and I definitely didn't have a great example of marriage to learn from. As a result, I have been conditioned to always have control. And I mean control everything: finances, schedules, work, house duties, etc. EVERYTHING! As a result, I am easily annoyed & get frustrated when things aren't up to MY standards. And that has turned me into a sort of nag and always having a negative response to things, even when I don't realize I am doing it. In short, my brain only sees what isn't being done, versus being grateful for what is being done. As a result of being such a strong independent woman, that doesn't need anyone to take care of me, I have given up the one thing that my marriage truly needs: intimacy. Well, in order to be intimate, you have to be vulnerable, trusting, and grateful. That sure is scary for someone that always needs to be in control!

What this book has taught me so far is that in order to gain the intimate / romantic marriage I desire, I have to give up control. Talk about total brain re-wire! Because it has always been in bedded into my brain to be strong and independent and never put myself in a vulnerable situation. Anywho, another result of this need of control, is I am BURNT OUT. By having to constantly be in control, I am lacking self care and taking on too much. I am also subconsciously telling my husband that I do not trust and respect him.

So, I just wanted to share this with all you married (or soon to be married) women out there, in case it could help someone else out. In the way that it has shown me some perspective into my own faults, lack of self care, constant need to control (whether consciously or subconsciously) , and what I can control vs what I cannot control.

The Surrendered Wife 1


92 Comments

Latest activity by D, on August 15, 2019 at 11:57 PM
  • Futuremrsm
    Expert October 2020
    Futuremrsm ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    Your post describes how I am too. I might just have to read it! Thanks for sharing
    • Reply
  • Danielle
    Master June 2019
    Danielle ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment

    You're welcome Smiley smile

    • Reply
  • Danyi
    Beginner September 2019
    Danyi ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Whatever book that advocates for me to be someone without a voice is not for me. I mean to just say "yes dear", "Whatever you think" and that tells me "Don't ever speak your mind to your husband. Just close your mouth and agree every single time." is insane... when did we travel back to the 50's and decided that it was ok to just be a pretty prop that a man feels like he has control. Come one! ugh1

    • Reply
  • Sarah
    Master September 2019
    Sarah ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    The term “surrendered wife” has nothing to do with not having a voice in your relationship. Giving up the idea of needing total control isn’t the same thing as just sitting passively saying “yes dear” when your husband speaks.
    • Reply
  • Allie
    Master August 2019
    Allie ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Danielle, thanks for sharing this. I can totally relate. I'll be picking up this book to read for our long flights on our honeymoon!

    • Reply
  • Danyi
    Beginner September 2019
    Danyi ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment

    This book is telling women to love their husbands and keep them happy by not complaining, and never tell him his wrong EVEN WHEN HE IS WRONG.

    • Reply
  • Allie
    Master August 2019
    Allie ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment

    Have you read this book before?

    • Reply
  • Danielle
    Master June 2019
    Danielle ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment

    Assuming that you actually read the book, so therefore are forming your statement off of actually doing your research, that is your interpretation and opinion. That is not how I interpret it and my opinion differs. In a nutshell, it simply states you have 2 choices:

    1) Be the roaring feminist you want to be, have control, always speak your mind, and always be right! Consequences: You are burnt out, lack intimacy & romance, constantly frustrated, emasculate your husband, and probably annoying to be around.

    2) Surrender the constant need to be in control, embrace your feminism, let him be masculine, show trust & respect, and express what you want and don't want. Consequences: You get more free time, you inspire your husband to step up, your relationship becomes more intimate & romantic, you get to do more of what makes you happy, and let go of a lot of stress.

    The book doesn't tell you that you can't strive for excellence and equality. IF having a successful career is important to you, then by all means be that strong independent woman at work! But when you go home, there is nothing wrong with having an excellent and equal marriage that looks different. Stop trying to be a man, and stop trying to force men to be women. We just weren't made that way. Embrace what makes you different, and work with it. Fact: Men think differently than women, and have different priorities than women. So what is so wrong with playing on that to get what we want? Embracing that and using that to live a happier stress free life? Look, you can judge all you want, and form whatever opinion you want...that is your right...but don't for one second thing that a woman that decides to be supportive, let go of unnecessary stress, and take care of herself is any less of a strong woman than one that decides to be opinionated and takes control. In fact, it's easy to voice opinions, what's hard is knowing when to shut up!

    "Wisdom is divided into two parts: (a) having a great deal to say, and (b) not saying it. - Anonymous

    • Reply
  • Danielle
    Master June 2019
    Danielle ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment

    Agreed. It's easy to form opinions off of the title and what people assume it's about, without actually reading the book themselves. And I wasn't trying to say that everyone has to do it or will agree with it, all I was trying to do was share a good book that gave me some perspective and is helping me with my marriage.

    • Reply
  • Danielle
    Master June 2019
    Danielle ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment

    You're welcome Smiley smile

    • Reply
  • Danielle
    Master June 2019
    Danielle ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment

    Okay, say that is 100% true. What do you gain by telling him he is wrong? What do you win? Is telling him he's wrong worth the cost? Worth what you lose by telling him? Just makes you more aware and think about things. It's not saying you can't EVER tell him he's wrong. It's saying pick your battles.

    • Reply
  • Danyi
    Beginner September 2019
    Danyi ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment

    I have, and I can't believe that there are some women that think that actually having an opinion would emasculate their husbands? Are they so fragile? Do we really have to dumb ourselves down so that a man can feel like he is superior, or feel like a "man"?

    I am not trying to be a man, I am just me. My Fiance love me because we challenge each other, because he values my opinion, because he thinks I am strong.

    • Reply
  • Danielle
    Master June 2019
    Danielle ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment

    ...and to add. I didn't share this book or my story / opinions on it to tell anyone they have to read it or follow it. It's absolutely okay if you don't agree and don't want to be "this type" of wife / woman. But not everyone feels the same as you, so I wanted to share it for anyone that might feel the same as me. Because in MY opinion, and for MY situation, I feel like it is enlightening and provides some interesting perspective worth reading.

    • Reply
  • Allie
    Master August 2019
    Allie ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment

    I think we have different opinions, so I'm not trying to argue with you. I can only give you my perspective. FH and I are both very headstrong. We challenge each other, listen to the other's ideas, and decide what's best for us as a team. He likes that I take charge and plan things; but to Danielle's point- being a planner and trying to be in control all the time is very taxing on my health. I know I need to let go more often and let FH take charge on some things. I have to trust that he'll get things done, not having to nag him every 5 seconds about it. Truth is, FH does get things done that we discuss, he just does them differently and in his own timeframe. Just because I'm super anal about some stuff doesn't mean that he has to be. It's more about learning to respect each other than having to "dumb ourselves down".

    • Reply
  • Sara
    Expert February 2020
    Sara ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    Some men, yes. Some men are emasculated by a woman's opinions. Some men can't deal with strong women. Not saying anyone should pander to that..just that they are out there.
    • Reply
  • Mrsbdg
    Champion August 2017
    Mrsbdg ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    When an author literally say “You liberated women are going to make men weak and then you won't want them. You'll be sorry!'' I have to take pause. I’m, personally, not a fan of the book or reading up on the author, not her biggest fan either.


    Now if we are just talking books, ohhh buddy, am I down!


    I love to read. Personally, I love reading about relationships because reading exclusively about marriage seems very reductive. Marriage is merely a social construct and it is not required of a successful or healthy relationship. Nonetheless prior to and after my wedding these were my favs:



    The Seven Principles for Making Marriage work by John Gottman



    The Heart of Couple Therapy by Ellen Watchel



    The Neuroscience of Human Relationships by Louis Cozolino



    Fidelity by Thich Nhat Hanh


    • Reply
  • Colleen
    Master September 2019
    Colleen ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    I was not judging it until I read
    “Stop bring a man. And stop having man
    be a women” that comment is sexist.
    That term in no way shape or form resembles a equal marriage. A equal marriage means you compromise means you have equal say. That man nor women is better then the other. I found a man I can do this with. But I would rather stay single forever then have to be less then a person because our anatomy is different. Love is equal respect. Listening to each other and coming up with a compromise. I refuse to lower my standards. Nor would I want anyone to lower their standards for me.
    • Reply
  • 2d Bride
    Champion October 2009
    2d Bride ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Does your husband have to cease to be a strong, independent man and surrender control in order to achieve intimacy? If not, why are those the only two choices available to you?

    • Reply
  • Allie
    Master August 2019
    Allie ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment

    That comment isn't sexist; it's just acknowledging the fact that men and women are in fact different. Not less than, different. We think differently.

    • Reply
  • Colleen
    Master September 2019
    Colleen ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    Cause we don’t have the same anatomy. How is it not sexist? It clearly stats that o e person should be the head of the marriage. I don’t agree with that. Nor will I ever.
    • Reply

You voted for . Add a comment 👇

×
WeddingWire celebrates love ...and so does everyone on our site! Learn more

Groups

WeddingWire article topics