Why The Term 'Trophy wife' is Nothing But Derogatory

Trophies substantiate a person's achievements. They signify the power which the winner holds.

They are the show-pieces which are regularly polished and cleaned for everyone to see. A similar thing has been happening to women as well. I am talking about the 'trophy wives' who are subjected to all this 'polishing and grooming.' People have viewed these women as 'treasured collections' for their wealthy husbands.

Trophy wives as a term has existed centuries before the word sexist came into being. History has witnessed how emperors literally 'won' women for themselves. Women were 'trophies' who were married off to a king who defeated his opponents. Kings also married away their daughters to establish political alliances. In India, Rajput women were married to Mughal emperors in exchange of peace and security. Trophy wife refers to any young woman who is nothing but an eye candy for an older, wealthy man. While elevating the status of the man, the term totally abolishes the woman's worth.

'Trophy Wife' Brings Along Other Derogatory Labels

Society has always assigned derogatory labels to women. So, it's not surprising when a young, beautiful women who is married to a rich, wealthy man is called a 'trophy wife'. The term comes along with an array of other labels like 'prostitute', 'whore', 'slut', 'man-eater,' etc. Why is society so selective in being derogatory? Why aren't men called 'trophy husbands'? Also, how can one judge a woman just because she married someone older and wealthier than her? Why no derogatory labels are attached to men?

The term 'Trophy Wife' Comes With Its Own Eligibility Criteria

The man demands that the woman needs to be as perfect as possible. She needs to be a 'pretty face' he can be proud of. However, the modern world demands that women need to be educated and smart before such a marriage is arranged. I read articles about how Amal Clooney, the wife of actor George Clooney is an example of the perfect, modern day trophy wife. I honestly felt that the idea behind a woman meeting a certain 'criteria' is totally baseless. The idea behind fulfilling such a criteria is way too regressive. Is that how people must perceive a successful woman as Amal Clooney? Also, why do men have the privilege of not meeting an eligibility criteria? Why should we let his wealth excuse his personality, mannerisms, looks, etc?

I recently read about how girls from a medical college in Pakistan are forced to marry after completing their MBBS degrees. Why? Because their qualifications are meant to elevate the status of the man they marry. These girls don't even get an opportunity to make a living out of their quality. These girls supposedly get excellent rishtas from wealthy men because of their medical degrees. Such a girl is considered a 'trophy' for her husband. Why should people force a woman to waste her accomplishments to be a so-called 'trophy'?

Objectification Of Women

The term makes the society perceive her as a "Barbie doll" who only spends her time in squandering her husband's wealth. She is seen as a beauty queen who has nothing to offer but her body. No one makes an effort to recognise the woman behind behind all the glitter. Her marriage should not define her character and personality. Such judgements do little to define her worthiness. The term 'trophy wife' depreciates a woman's status and makes her vulnerable to insults from the society. If we don't view the men as mere objects, why should women be viewed in that way? We easily acknowledge the fact that a man's worth is not defined by his marriage, so why must a woman be defined in this manner?  A woman young or old, married or unmarried is her own trophy.

Views expressed are author's own