What is a debutante wife?

[Syrreal]

I've heard that term a lot recently and have no idea what it means. I also can't find a real definition for it. Any ideas?

 

[JessicaR]

A debutante is typically a wealthy young woman, or a woman who will inherit great wealth, who usually comes from an upper class family.

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-debutante.htm

 

[Syrreal]

But what would make one specifically a "debutante wife"?

 

[JessicaR]

A debutante that is no longer single? I never heard the term, where did you hear it? I don't think it means anything more than a debutante that marries and becomes a debutante wife.

Is it a new reality show or something?

 

[minniecarousel]

There's a fluff book titled: Debutante Divorcee, which refers to a divorcee who married young and divorced after a rather short marriage. Maybe a debutante wife refers to one of the above-mentioned wealthy young women who marry young?

 

[disneyjunkie]

A debutante that is no longer single? I never heard the term, where did you hear it? I don't think it means anything more than a debutante that marries and becomes a debutante wife.

Is it a new reality show or something?

Aren't debutantes teenagers, 15-18?

 

[XTinabell]

A debutante is a young woman making her debut into society, usually with a large party where she meets eligible young men. I would have to guess that a debutante wife just means a young wife new to society. Strange term, where did you hear it?

 

[snarlingcoyote]

I wonder if it isn't a reference to young women women of the upper middle/lower upper classes who get married as quickly as possible and then set about making babies. They are usually debs, or were a few years back, and are a good entre' for a man who isn't already in a particular class of society and doesn't yet have the you-scratch-my-back-I'll-scratch-yours relationships necessary to do business at a certain level. The young woman has all the right connections in that society, but wants to be a stay at home mom as a profession. The man wants connections in that society and has the money for a wife who stays at home.

Of course it could mean something else entirely. That's just a guess; I see those girls occasionally and had identified the action, but there hasn't been a name for it, as being a SAHM was once the norm and not just one option, so a strategy for being a SAHM wasn't needed. . .

Did that make any sort of sense?

 

[DVCLiz]

Aren't debutantes teenagers, 15-18?

In our area, debs are college aged. The State deb ball is for college sophmores and the local one is for college seniors.

There are some teen events like the latina party for 15 year olds and the sweet 16 parties but those aren't deb related.

 

[Boo'sMom]

I've heard the term Trophy Wife, but never Debutante Wife.

 

[luvmy3]

Its a wife who wears a huge hoop dress and bonnet and walks around with a ruffly umbrella. At least thats what I picture when I hear the word debutante

 

[HM]

It's been years....but when I was in high school, that was the age for debutantes in our area (NC). I was not one, but was invited to a party (formal dance) thrown by one.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I have never heard that term before. I Googled and the first hit came up with a website called Jezebel which has an op-ed piece in which Michelle Obabma is referred to (in the title even) as "Barack Obama's Beautiful Debutante Wife." Several of the guesses here on the thread sounded good to me but none seem to apply in any way to Michelle Obama (she is not a teenager, new wife, etc.) so I am at a total loss There were no other hits that seemed to explain the phrase at all.
I hope this isn't considered a "politcal" post. It just happens this is the only place I can find the term used in online.

 

[Syrreal]

I saw that op-ed piece when I first started trying to figure out what the term was. It did't make sense with what I have always thought of as a "deb" (the teenager into society thing)

The 1st time I heard it was at a party last weekend. Some guy had asked me if I was one (I think I was actually the only married person at that party) but he was kind of drunk and quick to change train of thought and the conversation didn't go any further.

The way he made it sounds, made it seem to me like maybe it was a term synonimous with someone getting an MRS. Degree or that maybe it meant a more submissive type wife or something.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I really hope someone who IS familiar with the term will post and tell us all what it means. I am actually very curious now I think you need to track down the guy from the party and ask him what he meant

 

[JaxJags08]

I was a deb back in high school, but have no clue what that term means...

 

[LuvOrlando]

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[NotUrsula]

I agree with LuvOrlando -- what it means is a reference to a wife whose famly is well-connected and wealthy, and thus in a position to further her husband's ambitions. (The inference being, of course, that the husband is more of a self-made man.)

Calling Michelle Obama a debutante wife is nonsensical. She doesn't have that kind of background at all. Her dad was a pipefitter who worked in a water filtration plant, and her mom was a bank clerk after her kids grew up. She did well in school and became a very respected professional from an early age, but her family connections are not in any way valuable.