Ha, a smattering of this seems to be sliding from at least semi patriarchal to something else, maybe.
When 'the little woman' and I met, we were fully made individuals in chosen our career paths, earning similar incomes. During our life together my income has risen more or less commensurate to inflation while hers has more than quadrupled - in part because we decided I would take care of the mundane time killers, enabling her to do her thing - but mostly due to her advanced degree, which she sacrificed to acquire, and her incredible individual skill set. Our joint success allows us to enjoy a lifestyle that is far beyond my means, but to suggest that somehow she should not be entitled to individually reap the rewards of her success is almost as ludicrous as suggesting that one of us suffers while the other enjoys the high life. And so while my contribution, for example, to a dream vacation might be the car rental (while hers is airfare and hotels) it's no less important to me, and her, that we both make meaningful (but appropriate) financial contributions to every aspect of our life together.
There is no one size fits all, or any right or wrong way to successfully navigate this, but mature, like minded people are more likely to do this successfully, regardless how they choose to accomplish it.
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