So what is the Aishes Chayil

I was actually thinking of doing a series of posts on the "ideal wife" as described in Mishley. She is not exactly what men may visualize as their ideal when searching for a wife. I didn't yet plan out the posts, but I will address one misconception here in response to the comment that came in on the post do-smart-womem-make-better-wives
Zadok wrote:

"However, not all intelligent men seek the same quality in a wife. An example of the latter is Einstein who divorced his first wife, a student of physics, to marry a housewife type

I think two issues are being mixed here. I don't know anyone who would want to marry someone stupid but I do know many people who would prefer being married to the 'Ashes Chayil' type over the 'career women' type even though they themselves are very into their careers.

I responded to him as follows: Zadok, on what basis, do you take the "Ashes Chayil" as the opposite of the "career type?" She is described as an astute business woman. She is involved in various business, such as textile production -- darsha tzemer upishtein, palech, marvadim astha la, etc. ; procurement -- mimerchak tavi lachma; household management with staff -- chok lena'arotheya; trade with merchant --chagor nasna laknani, sadin ashtha vatimkor; buying real estate -- zamema sade vatikacheuhu; agriculture -- nata karem. She does not merely stay home but sets out to accomplish what she wants for herself and her family. Sounds like she has all the skills and ability of a "career woman" to me.