it still cracks me up that this is being discussed so seriously. :lol:
ok. i'll throw in my quarter. (2 cents in 70s change. :lol: )
i came of age during the Era of Gloria. naturally, i decided that my poor mother was oppressed and should rebel. why, i asked her, did she put up with my father's nonsense? why chain herself to the stove? i was incensed on her behalf.
she very patiently explained to me that she chose to work at home and to make raising and caring for my brothers and me her first priority. (second, really, because Daddy properly came first.) she had a degree and regularly declined job offers that would take her out of the house. it was always her decision and Daddy didn't interfere in her choice. On his payday, he handed her his paycheck and collected his "allowance". Although they loved and respected each other enough to discuss major purchases in advance, Mom had total freedom to decide what and when to spend. She never asked his permission for anything.
My parents always regarded each other as equals. Sooooo ... Mom was liberated long before we even had a word for it. :-)