Do Women Ever Own Anything?
Our bodies, surnames, titles, assets, authority, earnings — are they really ours?
The evening has been wonderful. The conversation is romantic, the flickering lights enchanting, and the food utterly delicious. I look carefully through the menu to choose exotic-sounding dishes, the most vibrant-looking drinks. At last, sleepy and content, I ask for the bill. This is brought straight to my husband, who has not spoken two words to our attendant all evening.
Oh well, I shrug. I should have become used to this by now. Just the month before, on a field trip with colleagues, three of us girls laughed and talked loudly while arranging for vehicles and fixing up hotels. After the program, our contact person sent a feedback form — to the only male member in our group, who had had zero involvement in the entire process.
Also, six months ago, I was the one who made plans for a trip with my husband — chose the travel agency, booked tickets, dealt with the visas. At the airport, I was looking for my name, and hence twice missed my husband’s name in the placards, complete with the prefix Mr. I wasn’t even aware that they knew of his name till then.
