Traditionally, marriage involved a kind of bartering, rather than mutual inter-dependence or role sharing. Husbands financially an...d economically supported wives, while wives emotionally, psychologically and socially supported husbands. He brought home the bacon, she cooked it. He fixed the plumbing, she the psyche.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
The truth is despite the hard work and juggling required to keep the different facets of the frantic life afloat, the "superwoman"... has one marvelous compensation. Being busy and being seen to be busy lets you off the hook. Buys you a way out of all aspects of your many roles you secretly despise ... like cleaning cupboards ... or entertaining your husband's business friends. When you combine wife, mother, career and all, each role become the perfect excuse for avoiding the worst aspects of the other.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
The good husbands understand and offer to help. "All you have to do is ask" they say. But even helpful husbands have to be thanked..., their contributions acknowledged, credit given. All those pleases and thank yous. Being grateful takes time and energy. It's often easier to do it yourself.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
Men talk, but rarely about anything personal. Recent research on friendship ... has shown that male relationships are based on sha...red activities: men tend to do things together rather than simply be together.... Female friendships, particularly close friendships, are usually based on self-disclosure, or on talking about intimate aspects of their lives.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
Afterwards, when the bombshell of early motherhood first hit, I remember wondering how any woman could possibly entertain erotic t...houghts while sleepwaking through the chaos of feeds, nappies stress and fatigue. I assume my husband and I must have had sex at least a few times in that two year period ... but I must say I can't remember it happening. Perhaps I dozed through it, who knows.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
Many women are reluctant to allow men to enter their domain. They don't want men to acquire skills in what has traditionally been ...their area of competence and one of their main sources of self-esteem. So while they complain about the male's unwillingness to share in domestic duties, they continually push the male out when he moves too confidently into what has previously been their exclusive world.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »