Dependency on Husbands

To the right is an image of Tamra and Simon Barney before their divorce. This image was taken on the 'Girl's Trip' that Vicki Gunvalson planned for solely the houseWIVES to attend and spend some time together as a group, but Simon intervened.

http://deathby1000papercuts.com

Not only does The Real Housewives of Orange County enforce the idea of having a patriarchal relationship, but it also shows that these women are completely dependent on their husbands and they would struggle without having them (and their money). In some cases this is forced, such as in Tamra Barney’s relationship to her ex-husband Simon in Season 5. In this marriage Simon would not allow her to travel alone because he was a very controlling husband. Tamra didn’t like this, but she knew she had to obey the rules that Simon wanted enforced into their relationship so when Vicki Gunvalson attempted to plan a girls trip, the men also came down for a boys trip in order to supervise their wives. There is even a scene before they get divorced where Tamra admits she is afraid to divorce Simon because she doesn’t think she will be able to support herself and her kids on her own. By not allowing Tamra to do things on her own throughout their marriage, Simon became an inhibitor. He prevented Tamra from knowing that she is strong enough to provide for herself so that she would always feel dependent on him.

Although Tamra spoke about how this wasn’t a choice it was something she had to do, season 5 housewife Alexis Bellino shows dependence on her husband as just the way a relationship should be. So, in season 5 when Vicki plans this girls trip Alexis refuses to go without her spouse Jim because they are too in love to be apart. She also relates her ideals with Vicki and Don’s relationship, in stating that there must be something wrong there if Vicki wants to travel without Don. In my opinion, if Jim won’t Alexis go on a girls trip and she is okay with it this is a complete source of male dominance in the relationship where Alexis is dependent on her husband for something as simple as traveling. In the most recent episode of The Real Housewives, Alexis continues to talk about the idea of dependency on her husband because he is the one who funded everything for her dress line. She believes that the problem with liberal America today is that women want too much freedom from men. This clearly shows that Alexis thinks women need to be dependent on their husbands and she is openly bashing all of the strides forward that feminists and other women have made in gaining marriage equality.

These ideas prove that not only are the housewives dependent on their husbands for their income, but they are also dependent on their husbands because they are not allowed to be their own independent persons.