In the ever-evolving landscape of social media trends, a curious movement has gained traction in recent years: the trad wife. This phenomenon, short for “traditional wife,” has sparked fascination and controversy across various platforms. But what exactly does it mean to be a trad wife, and how do popular influencers like Hannah Neman of Ballerina Farm and Nara Smith fit into this narrative?

At its core, the traditional wife movement centers around women who embrace traditional gender roles within marriage and family life. These women often prioritize homemaking and child-rearing over career pursuits, support their husbands as the primary breadwinners, and cultivate a traditionally feminine appearance and demeanor. Many traditional wives also align themselves with conservative religious values and advocate for a return to pre-feminist movement lifestyle choices.

Hannah Neman, the face behind the wildly popular Ballerina Farm accounts, has amassed an impressive following of over 18 million across various platforms. Her content offers a window into a seemingly idyllic traditional lifestyle, showcasing her days spent homemaking, cooking from scratch, and raising her eight children on a sprawling 328-acre Utah farm.

While Neman embodies many aspects of the traditional wife archetype, her story is more nuanced than it might initially appear. She prioritizes homemaking and child-rearing, demonstrates traditional skills like baking bread from scratch, and presents a modest, feminine appearance in line with Mormon religious values. However, Neman has also transformed her lifestyle into a lucrative business venture. She participates in beauty pageants, activities not typically associated with the traditional wife movement.

Another influencer often linked to the traditional wife phenomenon is Nara Smith, a 22-year-old South African and German model based in Los Angeles. With 6.9 million TikTok followers, Smith has captivated audiences with her elaborate recipe videos, often filmed in chic outfits. But does Smith truly fit the traditional wife mold?

While Smith’s content focuses heavily on home cooking and domestic life, and she married young with three children under three, her situation is more complex than the traditional wife label suggests. She maintains an active modeling career outside the home and has not explicitly promoted traditional wife ideology. Moreover, Smith has expressed uncertainty about her faith, indicating less commitment to the religious conservatism often associated with the movement.

Interestingly, despite promoting traditional roles, accounts like Ballerina Farm and Nara Smith’s represent modern business ventures. These influencers have turned their lifestyle content into potentially lucrative careers, with estimates suggesting significant income from their online presence.

However, the rise of these influencers has not been without controversy. Critics argue that their content promotes unrealistic standards and regressive gender roles, sparking heated debates about feminism, personal choice, and the glorification of traditional roles on social media platforms.

The phenomenon surrounding Ballerina Farm, Nara Smith, and similar influencers reflects a complex dialogue about gender roles, social media, and individual choice in contemporary society. While these women may share some characteristics with the traditional wife movement, their stories demonstrate that such labels often oversimplify the intricate realities of women’s lives and choices.

As social media continues to evolve, so will the conversations surrounding lifestyle choices and gender roles. The trad wife movement and its associated influencers mirror societal tensions and highlight the diverse ways women navigate their identities in the digital age. Whether viewed as a return to traditional values or a controversial step backward, the traditional wife phenomenon remains a captivating subject of discussion in our ever-changing cultural landscape.