This is a genuine request for information, from an English gentleman. What's all this nonsense about men not liking intelligent lovers? I reckon to those that know, clever ladies make superb lovers, always keen to either give or take knowledge.
Yes some of us men have no problem with changing [ diapers, for US readers]. We can also use vacuum cleaners, help children to read/write, do maths, earn a living, teach a woman to drive without losing ones temper.
When did the arch feminists last rod out the drains, check the car for oil and water, check the tyres before a long journey?
I grew up in a very different world, a youngster in England in WW2, [yes I have been bombed, but not much]. Walked to school [ not far] from three and a half. At four and a half, went to primary school,walking one and a half miles, so did the girls. Yes I guess we pulled a few pigtails, but we also showed the girls which trees were the best to climb, how to shoot rats! [I was a country lad, kids had more fun then!]
Sorry but I reckon so many urban modern women are spoilt, many are going up a path to a dead end. Yes I was very happily married for 22 years. [Now widdowed] 2 splendid graduate children, I
am now retired.
David Vinter 7 Spinney Close,
Grimoldby, Louth, Lincs,
UK.

David, I'd suggest you stick around and read a little bit on this site for a while, because I think your questions would be answered in short order. The quick answer is that we want to choose our own paths, since some of us see the traditional wife-and-mother path as dead an end as you see for many of us on the ones us (but not all - there are a lot of mothers and stay-at-home mothers amongst the ranks of feminists) taking. The difference is that we are the ones living our lives, while you aren't, so I think you'll understand if your advice takes a backseat to our own observations and desires.

These comments have nothing to do with the topic, which suggests an open thread might be helpful.

Responding to the comments, I don't see how precisely David's remarks impact on feminism. Maureen Dowd seems to have made a claim last year about men not liking intelligent lovers, and she was roundly criticized (and defended) by many feminists.

Besides that, I dont see what women being able to check car oil, walk to school, or climb trees, has anything to do with political feminism. "Feminist" women are more likely than "traditional" to be willing to learn how to maintain a car than non-feminist women, David. Nor does anyone deny that some men are willing to do housework, though in my parents' family that certainly wasn't shared equally.

How any of this leads to the implicitly misogynist presumption that "urban modern" women (read: liberal women) are spoilt (read: let's go back to the good ole days), when at the least they are no better off than comparable men, and generally worse off financially than suburban variations of the same type, is completely lost on me.

Well thanks to Sars and Bobby for replying, I think however you have somewhat misrepresented my thoughts, I have NEVER been against women wanting to row their own boats in their choice of lifestyle,that's their business. But let's face it, I
do get a bit wild when they blame men for their the fact that nature has made them in a different way. Well blame me, anyway. We both have access to the same health service, and education. I think you were trying to play the ageism game with me! As to Bobby, you seem to be a very political lady, as a man
I tend not to vote, finding no party to agree with my views. Nothing however stops you and likewise thinkers starting their own political party. As to not being an equal in shareing household duties, well do include, replacing the odd roof tile, repainting the interior. Men don't do DIY just for fun, they do it to save money. Neither in my case did I ever smoke or get drunk, [ I had my motorcycle at 16, dosen't go with beer!]
From your various letters, I gather that some ladies want to play football. Why would anyone[ male or female] want to kick a ball from one end of a field to the other and back, I could never understand! I preferred Swiming, and Cricket, nice warm weather. Let's play at
Marxists and plough up football pitches, grow food and give it to the poor. Similarily, why anyone male or female wants to climb Everest, or go to Antarctica
astounds me!
I like women, I just don't like it if they moan about their lot. Men have troubles too, I'm disabled, which is no fun, but so be it.
Just in case you are interested, starting today, I'm going to teach a lady GCSE
maths and english. For free! But then I'm a grumpy old man.
DAVE.

FYI, I am a guy. Yes Im very interested in politics. And I think you're a cool guy, Dave. We will each live our respective lives in a respectful environment, ladies included... which is rather the whole point. Good luck today. :)