@Cel119
I do wish people would not make up history and use their fantasies about the past to try to criticise the present. Married women have almost always made independent decisions and been managers and worked in various ways to help provide for their families. As other posters have just said, for thousands of years, marriage has been a practical arrangement, not driven by 'lurve'. Mutual respect was the ideal, not romance.
I refer you to this very informative post, from another thread, just a couple of days ago:
" @Cottagecheeseisnotcheese · 30/12/2023 17:39
this is the Bible passage most trad wives base things on from proverbs 31 NIV USA version ... they haven't read it very carefully!!
[a]A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11
Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12
She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13
She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14
She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15
She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16
She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17
She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18
She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19
In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20
She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21
When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22
She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23
Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24
She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28
Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29
“Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31
Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
the interesting thing is she seems to run her own business and has employees and when she buys land with her profits it doesn't appear she consults her husband, in fact he values her judgment and leaves the financial management to her while he does politics which is what this verse means (Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.) So even in 800 BC it was not seen as outrageous for a woman to own property or have her own business "