Wife acceptance factor

Wife acceptance factor, wife approval factor, or wife appeal factor[1] (WAF) is an assessment of design elements that either increase or diminish the likelihood a wife will approve the purchase of expensive consumer electronics products such as high fidelity loudspeakers and home theater systems. WAF is a tongue-in-cheek play on electronics jargon such as "form factor" and "power factor" and derives from the stereotype that men are predisposed to appreciate gadgetry and performance criteria whereas women must be wooed by visual and aesthetic factors.[2]

The term is considered a sexist term by some people,[3][4] for example women in the high fidelity hobbyist community, who have stated the sexism in the community is reflected by use of the phrase WAF.[5] Some people have used the non-gender-specific term significant other acceptance parameters (SOAP).[6]

  1. ^ Reynolds, Sallie (Spring 1988). "Dames in Toyland, Part 1: The City of the Plain". The Absolute Sound. 13 (52): 64. Wife Appeal Factor
  2. ^ Du Pre, Vanessa Vyvyanne (1994). "Women Against the High-End: Audiophilia is a Dead End". The Absolute Sound. 18 (93): 30.
  3. ^ Carnoy, David (2006-10-28). "Commentary: Top products with high 'wife-acceptance factor'". CNET. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
  4. ^ Morrison, Geoffrey (2015-06-14). "Death to the "WAF" (Wife Acceptance Factor)". Sound & Vision. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
  5. ^ Brodbeck-Kenney, Kirsten (2014-12-06). "No Girls Allowed: Why I Hate "Wife Acceptance Factor"". Part-Time Audiophile. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
  6. ^ Carnoy, David (September 16, 2003). "Taking the sting out of the whip". CNet.com. Archived from the original on 2012-10-10.