She might be doing it to get a reaction from her husband. Maybe she wants to see if he'll show a little jealousy in a cute way. It can be a way of testing the waters of his feelings. Like when she says something about her 'date' and watches his face to see if he cares a bit more than he lets on. Also, it could be a form of flirting within their marriage. She's keeping the relationship lively and interesting by this playful teasing.
Sometimes, it's a way for the wife to boost her own confidence. By pretending to be alluring for an imaginary 'date', she's also reminding herself that she's still an attractive person. And by teasing her husband, she's including him in this self - discovery of sorts. For instance, she might say something like 'My date tonight will be so impressed, and you should be too' while getting ready, which not only teases him but also makes her feel good about herself.
She might want to be completely honest with him about her past experiences. Maybe she wants to share how those dates made her realize what she really wants in a relationship, which is now what she has with her husband.
It could imply that she is trying to distance herself from her husband in an intimate way. Maybe she has some unresolved issues or is feeling a lack of emotional connection in the relationship.
One reason could be for comical purposes. It can create a really funny situation that lightens the mood in the relationship. Just like in the story where the wife crossdresses as her husband to surprise him when he comes home.
Loneliness is a big factor. When the husband is away on military duties for a long time, the wife may feel extremely alone and seek company elsewhere.
In some cases, it might be due to the husband's laid - back nature. He may not be too bothered about who makes the decisions as long as things work out well. So the wife steps in and dominates. Also, in modern society, women are more empowered and may have stronger opinions on various matters like child - rearing, home decor, etc. So they tend to dominate in these areas. For example, the wife may have a very specific vision for how the house should be decorated and she takes charge of that.
If the wife spread false rumors in the community that could damage the family's reputation. In many stories, reputation is highly valued. So, she might be punished in front of her husband to make it clear that such actions are not acceptable and to also make the husband aware of the situation so that he can also take steps to repair the family's name.
One reason could be different upbringings. For example, if the wife grew up in a family where she had to be independent early on, she might be stronger in handling various situations compared to her husband who had a more sheltered upbringing.
It could be for the sake of relationship growth. By feminizing her husband in certain ways, like getting him interested in home - making or nurturing activities, it can create a more balanced partnership. They can share responsibilities more evenly and understand each other's roles better.
One reason could be that she is unhappy in the relationship herself and takes it out on him in a negative way. Maybe she expected something different from the marriage and is disappointed.
It could also be an accidental occurrence. In a story with a touch of magic or the supernatural, a wife might be experimenting with some new - found magical powers or an old family heirloom with strange powers. And due to her inexperience or some unforeseen circumstances, her husband ends up being turned into a woman. This then sets off a chain of events as they both try to reverse the transformation while also learning about each other in new ways.