‘A husband expects a yes’: how wife schools are shaping submissive Christian women
A growing number of Christian women are promoting 'wife schools'—online courses that teach submission to husbands as a biblical ideal, part of a broader conservative movement blaming feminism for women's dissatisfaction. Critics argue these programs exploit women's insecurities and reinforce restrictive gender roles. The courses, often led by women, have become a profitable industry through social media and faith-based networks. The trend reflects deeper cultural tensions around gender, religion, and autonomy in modern American life.
- ▪Wife schools are online programs teaching women to be submissive to their husbands based on conservative Christian beliefs.
- ▪These courses are often marketed by women who frame wifely submission as a path to marital and spiritual fulfillment.
- ▪Critics say the programs profit from women's insecurities and promote harmful, outdated gender dynamics.
- ▪The movement aligns with a broader backlash against feminism within certain evangelical Christian communities.
- ▪Social media platforms have helped amplify the reach and commercial success of these wife training programs.
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‘These women are building businesses that exploit these feelings of inadequacy that their followers have.’ Illustration: Carolina Moscoso/The GuardianView image in fullscreen‘These women are building businesses that exploit these feelings of inadequacy that their followers have.’ Illustration: Carolina Moscoso/The GuardianIs nothing sacredUS news‘A husband expects a yes’: how wife schools are shaping submissive Christian womenA cottage industry of women are selling courses aligned with a conservative movement that claims feminism is the source of women’s discontentAlaina DemopoulosTue 28 Apr 2026 11.00 EDTLast modified on Tue 28 Apr 2026 11.01 EDTShare@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline…
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