This archive report was first published on 11 January 2020.
As I reflect on my past encounters with men who believe a woman's sole purpose is to cater to their needs, I am reminded of a husband who called me after his wife's story was published. He was furious that she had shared her journey to entrepreneurship without his permission, despite not being mentioned in the article.
His words still echo in my mind: 'Do you girls have nothing better to do than write stories about my wife?' This mindset is not unique to him, and it's a narrative that's all too familiar in today's society.
With the rise of women in the workforce, it's surprising that some men still believe a woman's place is behind the stove. They expect their partners to be domesticated, to spend all day preparing meals and taking care of the household. But this is not the world we live in today.
As a woman, I've been asked what I bring to the table on every date I go on. It's a question that highlights the changing dynamics of relationships. We can't be dating and marrying men who still think that a woman is to be seen and not heard, that her sole purpose is to cater to a man's needs.
Today's man wants a partner who can take care of herself, who can pull weight and contribute to the family finances. But he's missing the fact that a woman who has learned to fend for herself will also have learned to speak out.
It's time for women to stop breaking their backs to please their men. It's 2020, and we deserve better. We deserve partners who respect our autonomy, our opinions, and our contributions to the relationship.
