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Is It Really Different?

Something about the whole "controversy" about Wendy Davis' life story has me bugged.  As an editor, I understand condensing the story and making it easy for people to grasp the gist in a sound bite size.  I have no problem with that, although I can understand people who are upset by what they see as lies.

What I don't understand is the big concern over her husband working and supporting her while she finished school.   I personally know dozens of men whose wives worked and supported them while they finished school and no one thinks a thing about it.  I am sure there are some cases like that in the legislature and in congress. 

Why is it considered a flaw in Wendy's character?  Is it simply because she is a woman?  In most marriages I know, people work together for the good of the family and sometimes the roles of primary and secondary breadwinner get switched.  I have yet to see it reflect badly on a man when his wife worked as a nurse or something while he finished medical school and I know quite a few doctors who fit that history.   I know some families where the spouses took turns working and finishing levels of education.  It is not unusual.


I cannot help but pick up on these discrepancies in treatment between men and women. Some are glaring, but many are more subtle, like this example.  I think it helps all of us to be more aware of the measuring sticks we are using to judge others.  There shouldn't be one for women and another for men.  

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