Quote:
Originally posted by DeltAlum
It wasn't my "role," it was our choice.
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Yes, it was a mutual choice...there are men, probably around your age or maybe even younger, who do feel like it's the man's role to provide for his family without his wife having to work, and would probably feel like a lesser man if, for whatever reason, his wife did have to work.
My father is one of those men. He probably doesn't look down on men whose wives either have to or choose to work. But, he prides himself on the fact that my mother didn't have to work at all after they got married, and he feels like it was his role to make enough so that his wife didn't have to work.
That philosophy is becoming quite problematic now, as both my sister and I will probably make more than our partners for at least a few years.
Geez, what do you expect when you encourage your daughters to go to excellent schools and do well? 
It really bothers him that our partners don't feel like it's their "role," but a choice that each couple has to make...but it doesn't bother us as much because we never attached a stigma to working women.
So, I don't think it's at all insulting to point out that there are men who think that their role IS to make sure their wives don't have to work. Based on time, region, or whatever values a family might hold, it's actually a pretty common view.