Origin of the Term "Trophy Wife"

Dunstan · 9th July 2007, 10:24 AM

The New York Times (in an article discussing Fred Thompson's wife) asserts that

Quote:

The term “trophy wife” was coined by Fortune magazine in 1989 and immediately entered the language.

This seems dubious to me, but I don't have access to LEXIS. Any language buffs want to take a shot at this?

Darth Rotor · 9th July 2007, 11:40 AM

Originally Posted by Dunstan

The New York Times (in an article discussing Fred Thompson's wife) asserts that

This seems dubious to me, but I don't have access to LEXIS. Any language buffs want to take a shot at this?

I'd have thought "Helen of Troy" but I begin to see what you are driving at.

DR

fuelair · 9th July 2007, 07:52 PM

Can't guarantee the NYT, but in all sources I located, it is said or implied it is American and 1985+. Two sources, one medical bulletin and other Psychology Today (both 2006) have an added and extended meaning that can apply to first wives - selected for accomplishment/ability(in outside world - not as "housewife") and not age/appearance related.

Puppycow · 10th July 2007, 08:55 PM

Wow, what a beautiful daughter he has.

And his granddaughter, isn't she precious?

Family values.

Big Les · 11th July 2007, 03:00 AM

According to this dictionary, it first appears in 1984 (doesn't say where). I suspect it was coined informally before that, and that other "things" have had that prefix applied also.

Father Dagon · 18th July 2007, 05:49 AM

Didn't Tom Wolfe coin it?

In one of the Aliens comic books, there's a gigant floating city. And that society has a formalized trophy wife system. A man who wants a younger wife can without no explanation declare divorce and marry a trophy wife. The former wifes status and material welfare is guaranteed. As the society is heavily stratified, the rationalize is to make men more competitive as anyone can't have a trophy wife.

joshbuckley · 21st July 2007, 01:37 PM

Trophy wifes are getting less and less popular than they used to be 5-10 years ago.

9th July 2007, 10:24 AM	#1
Dunstan Illuminator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Sunnyvale Trailer Park Posts: 4,292	Origin of the Term "Trophy Wife" The New York Times (in an article discussing Fred Thompson's wife) asserts that Quote: The term “trophy wife” was coined by Fortune magazine in 1989 and immediately entered the language. This seems dubious to me, but I don't have access to LEXIS. Any language buffs want to take a shot at this?

9th July 2007, 11:40 AM	#2
Darth Rotor Salted Sith Cynic Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rat cheer Posts: 34,279	Originally Posted by Dunstan The New York Times (in an article discussing Fred Thompson's wife) asserts that This seems dubious to me, but I don't have access to LEXIS. Any language buffs want to take a shot at this? I'd have thought "Helen of Troy" but I begin to see what you are driving at. DR
	__________________ Helicopters don't so much fly as beat the air into submission. "Jesus wept, but did He laugh?"--F.H. Buckley____"There is one thing that was too great for God to show us when He walked upon our earth ... His mirth." --Chesterton__"If the barbarian in us is excised, so is our humanity."--D'rok__ "I only use my gun whenever kindness fails."-- Robert Earl Keen__"Sturgeon spares none.". -- The Marquis

9th July 2007, 07:52 PM	#3
fuelair Cythraul Enfys Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 28,961	Can't guarantee the NYT, but in all sources I located, it is said or implied it is American and 1985+. Two sources, one medical bulletin and other Psychology Today (both 2006) have an added and extended meaning that can apply to first wives - selected for accomplishment/ability(in outside world - not as "housewife") and not age/appearance related.
fuelair Cythraul Enfys Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 28,961

10th July 2007, 08:55 PM	#4
Puppycow Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Japan Posts: 15,789	Wow, what a beautiful daughter he has. And his granddaughter, isn't she precious? Family values.
	__________________ “Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them. With Major Major it had been all three.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

11th July 2007, 03:00 AM	#5
Big Les Not so much a medium as a large Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 5,004	According to this dictionary, it first appears in 1984 (doesn't say where). I suspect it was coined informally before that, and that other "things" have had that prefix applied also.
	__________________ "Feeling you’ve done something is not quite the same as the empirical scientific proof." -Stephen Fry The BS Historian

18th July 2007, 05:49 AM	#6
Father Dagon Graduate Poster Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Stockholm, Sweden, Mater Evropa, Sol-III Posts: 1,193	Didn't Tom Wolfe coin it? In one of the Aliens comic books, there's a gigant floating city. And that society has a formalized trophy wife system. A man who wants a younger wife can without no explanation declare divorce and marry a trophy wife. The former wifes status and material welfare is guaranteed. As the society is heavily stratified, the rationalize is to make men more competitive as anyone can't have a trophy wife.

21st July 2007, 01:37 PM	#7
joshbuckley New Blood Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 18	Trophy wifes are getting less and less popular than they used to be 5-10 years ago.
joshbuckley New Blood Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 18