I don't see the point of commenting on what works in other peoples relationships. Just because it isn't a relationship you want, doesn't mean other couples cant be happy in that sort of relationship.
Now where did I read a study (not a newspaper link BTW) that both parties in relationship that broadly conform to traditional roles are far happier than those couples who have a more modern approach.
FWIW, if my parents and ILs were still alive, they would be 80+ now. In reality the women controlled the relationship because they controlled the home, the children and the purse strings. I don't actually know of a man of that generation who didn't go to work, come home and put his pay packet on the table.
My father tells stories of his youth where on a Friday night, the women would be queued up outside the dockyard to retrieve pay packets before the men squandered it on drink. One might conclude they were married to old battle axes 
but certainly the women were in control.
Ditto the whole concept of 'new man' - that was certainly around when I was born, perfectly usual for working men with 'housewives' to share chores and childcare. I'm sure there were indeed exceptions to that - but certainly not in my parents social group.
In fact that type of relationship still carries through to my peer group. Of 8 couples we regularly socialise with, only one has what I would call a dominant male - the female are the dominant parties in all the other relationships.
I'd also point out of our 8 couple strong social group, all the men work FT, most of the women FT, some PT. None of the men have a drink problem and need their money removing. It's just accepted that as the principle homemaker and decision maker, women do a better job. If you asked any of them (bar one couple, but they are a whole different story entirely) they would say they have a totally equal relationship - but as an outsider you can tell who wears the trousers!