I’m not saying all women should ditch their careers, put on an Amish dress, and bear 10 children for a misogynist man who grunts demands all day long. Not by a long shot. There is a spectrum of responses to this conundrum, and each woman may find herself in a different place, even at different times in her life. Of course, not every laid-back man is a disappointment and not every assertive man is mature and kind.
Two women I know took entirely different paths and responded differently on this spectrum: The first bought into the feminist mantra hook, line, and sinker, scoffed at strong alpha males who were opinionated, direct—even demanding. She married a softer, but more romantic man who would do whatever she wanted at the drop of a hat.
The second dutifully married a more direct, straightforward man, however demanding and borderline-misogynist he was. Fast-forward a few years; both women had two kids. Guess which one is happier? The former’s husband has become so passive-aggressive that the family’s finances are in disarray and their sex life is nonexistent. The latter found a synergy with her husband most of my friends hardly recognize: They’re working towards familial goals, have hot, regular sex, and he’s compromised and become less of a demanding jerk. Guess that patriarchy thing works out sometimes?
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