Men Have Strange Ideas About 'Rights'

By RUTH MILLETT

"Some husbands," says Marcelene Cox, "think it is a breach of the marriage bond for a wife to read the morning paper first."

Almost any wife could take it from there and make a list of such masculine priorities. Such as: Some husbands think that having a "hard day" is purely a masculine prerogative.

Some husbands seem to think that only the man of the family needs to "get away from it all" occasionally.

Some husbands think that, even though they have to be reminded ten times to do some minor repair around the house, they are mistreated if a sock isn't darned or a button sewed on the first time it is called to the little woman's attention.

Some husbands think "nights out" are only for men and would be indignant if Mama used them for a baby sitter regularly.

Some husbands believe it is sissy for a man to do the dishes, but quite all right for a woman to push a lawn mower or paint a bathroom.

Some husbands think that the day's irritations are something a husband should share with his wife, but a wife should work out for herself.

Some husbands think that if a wife is unhappy it's a sign she doesn't have enough to do to keep her busy. But what man ever figured that the labor-saving devices in his shop or office account for any of his dissatisfaction with life?

Some husbands seem to think that only a man needs praise and recognition.

But then husbands could probably get up just as long a list of feminine priorities, too.  From: The Charleston Daily Mail Saturday Evening, April 22, 1950.