Many influencers are promoting a trend called the traditional life – trad life for short. The trad life encourages people to take on more traditional gender roles. For example, the man in the house would be the breadwinner while the woman tends to house chores, child care and other duties. For some, the trad life seems like an idealistic style of living, making bread from scratch, picking homegrown vegetables and spending time away from difficult jobs.
Those looking into the trad life or find themselves experiencing this nostalgic experience may want to learn more about the dangers of this lifestyle and how they may become victims of abuse. Here is what you should know:
The dangers of romanticizing a traditional lifestyle
What people watch on social media is often made to look more glamorous than the actual reality. The truth is that influencers showing off their traditional lifestyle often omit their unbalanced life, marital difficulties and loss of control. Many people – especially women – who enter the trad life quickly discover the dark secret of this lifestyle.
When one person in a marriage is the sole provider for a family, there can be an imbalance of power. The breadwinner may be more demanding, putting pressure and limitations on the other spouse to meet their expectations. The breadwinner may abuse their power by refusing access to bank accounts, limiting an allowance or monitoring the other spouse’s spending. Over time, the stay-at-home spouse may lose more control and autonomy, becoming dependent on the other to live.
The trad life can make it very difficult for people to leave their marriage when they do not have access to financial accounts. Stay-at-home spouses may also find it hard to no longer be dependent on their other spouse after leaving a trad life as they would have no job experience or income.
However, a stay-at-home spouse may be entitled to assets and alimony in a divorce, helping them get back on their feet. Seeking legal guidance can make the process easier.