I'll probably be the lone woman one this one, but I think I am more forgiving of an "older gentleman" asking such a question. Well unless, of course, your idea of "older" is 50! (In that case, he's definitely young enough to know better!) You see, people who grew up in a different time will have different ways of seeing the world. If this man is somewhere in the range of 70+ he came up in a time when women were indeed largely expected to be housewives. I, for one, am not surprised to hear about a senior citizen who is not totally "with it" in 2004. Should he have known better? Of course! Though, I wouldn't "rip him a new one". It sounds like you handled it appropriately by calmly setting the record straight. I hope you have better luck at your next social gathering!
.....Kelly
