In the book of Marriage, which discusses many different aspects of ancient marriage, in the section regarding the Expectations of Marriage there is an excerpt from Plutarch that describes his ideal relationship between a husband and wife. He writes that “every activity also makes clear the sovereignty and choice of the husband,” and that “[a wife] should share in the seriousness and playfulness and melancholy and laughter of her husband.” That is very similar to the message in the song, “Stand By Your Man.” Even when the wife will “have bad times, and he’ll have good times… and if you love him oh be proud of him.” Additionally, at the end of the song the lyrics read, “Keep giving all the love you can, Stand by your man.” In ancient literature, it is clear that writers believed that wives should be obedient and loving towards their husbands, and this appears to be echoed even in modern music.
However, while the song starts out seemingly sexist, it quickly become apparent that the lyrics are more comically disparaging to men as they read, “And if you love him oh be proud of him, ‘Cause after all he’s just a man.” While in the ancient text there is no comical relief that excuses why the wife should be ultimately subordinate, but this is contrasted in the modern music by insinuating that a man is relatively simple and can’t help “Doin’ things that you don’t understand.”
“When two voices sing in unison, the melody of the deeper voice prevails. So, too, in a temperate household every activity is carried out with both parties in agreement, but every activity also makes clear the sovereignty and choice of the husband… A wife should have no emotion of her own, but should share in the seriousness and playfulness and melancholy and laughter of her husband.” (Marriage 58, ‘Plutarch, Moral Advice 139D, F; 140 A’)