Men are usually(note I said usually), embarrassed if they don’t make as much of themselves as their wives. My ex-husband was always struggling to keep up with me and I never took him to any company functions lest I’d have to explain his work status. In my case, I put him through college, let him leave home for 10+ weeks to try a new career thousands of miles away, and he still wouldn’t/couldn’t(?) be happy with himself or his life. He didn’t seem to have what it takes to succeed. His perpetual unhappiness led him to the road of cheating with women of a “lesser class” ahem...
Yes, that was the final straw after 14 years of his nonsense.
How are things today? Good question. You are correct that feminism has created a whole set of lonely women. I have been divorced 11 years now and have only had a handful of real dates. I have found those men to be so emasculated that they are a turn-off and they have found me to be too brazen, harsh, and independent.
Two thoughts. First, for every lonely woman there's a lonely man. It takes two. Second, no man who isn't already emasculated lets himself be emasculated, especially by some so-called social movement. Honestly, the "women have made men wimps" argument holds no water with me.
I guess I'm sick of this issue always being examined from one angle -- that of the evil feminist. It takes two to marry -- or not marry.
I'd say most men who have a sack is going to probably have issues with a woman being the breadwinner. Sexist perhaps, but true. Biology, Society, etc define man to be the provider and the protector.... and women by those same forces are the nurturers. When those roles get confused or reversed, it rarely bodes well. It doesn't matter what your "intellect" may tell you, its fundamental.
I find the whole "strong woman" argument a bit of a laughable claim by the feminists, that men cannot handle strong women. There have always been strong and strong willed women, even in victorian times. You think those that created and maintained the strict social structures of such societies had anything to do with the men? Hell no, it was the wives, who ran the homes, planned the events, moved in the political circles, etc etc etc.
Strong driven women are nothing new, its just where that drive and will is being focused these days. What is new is the role of provider... this is intrinsicly emasculating.
I have a hard enough time dealing with he fact that my career is not where I know it could be because of decisions I have made to remain in a geographical area that is less economically viable than other places. This is a choice I make for my family, and I do not resent them for it, but that still bothers me personally from time to time. Being in a home full time where the woman is the sole income provider, no way I could do it. Sorry. I would not resent her for making the money, but would resent myself for letting it happen.