Why does the woman have to respect her husband and do everything else?

I believe you're referring to the Biblical idea of "wives submit to your husbands" in the Christian perspective, something that causes a bit of unrest in the feminist mind. I can only talk about this through my Christian perspective, if you're referring to another religious viewpoint in particular then I'm just way off and I don't know how to answer you. This is in Ephesians chapter 5 of the Bible. Personally, I never read this as wives having to do everything and make all the sacrifices, but rather to follow her husband's lead. The Bible isn't any less harsh on husbands, and I believe they are also called to make a number of sacrifices for their wives. The very next verse after "wives submit to your husbands" is "husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her... husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies." (NIV) So I would say that the Biblical ideal says that husbands are also to make sacrifices and be very willing to do things for their wives. I don't know what religious individuals you're talking to, they certainly don't come from my church. I'm not married personally, but from watching couples who believe in this Biblical idea of marriage, it looks to me that when it's played out in its ideal form both husbands and wives still have to make the same amount of sacrifices and compromises. It's like a ballroom dance. The guy may lead, but if he's stomping on his partner's toes and running her into walls then he's not doing it right. The dance isn't all about him, even if she's following him.

Grrrr.... yes, I hear it all the time too! It's true, women are to submit to their husbands. It says this clear as day in the Bible. Women should do everything in their power to help and please their husband. However, it also says in Ephesians 5:25-26 - Husbands, love your wives, JUST AS CHRIST LOVED THE CHURCH AND GAVE HIMSELF UP FOR HER TO MAKE HER HOLY, CLEANSING HER BY THE WASHING WITH WATER THROUGH THE WORD. Ephesians 5: 28 talks about man loving their wife as their own body. 1 Peter 3:7 tells husbands to be considerate with their wives and to treat them with respect. Colossians 3:18-19 tells husbands to love their wives and not be harsh. Doesn't sound to me like women are the only ones with the responsibility to do everything possible for the other.

I don't know what kind of sacrifice that you mean. I knew husband and wife have their own duties to carry on in marriage. As I understand, husband must be a leader to one family. Husband has duty to look for money to support the family, to help wife to do some housekeeping duties, to give security to the family in what ever manner and many more not to mention here. And for wife, she has duties to take care husband's property, to take care the children, to take care of her own pride and to support her husband in terms of spiritual so that husband will always be motivated to work hard for the family. In this case, wife will be full housewife and not working. So, I think if everybody understand their duties before entering marriage, then there will be no problem and there shouldn't be any sacrifice. Unless you got married by force or due to some other reason where you are unwillingly to get married. So, if you get married base on your willingness and without force, then you should understand all the basic understanding of one marriage. And you should understand what the duties each party should carry and there will be no sacrifice. But in the middle of the marriage, there might come problem when one party forgotten their responsibilities and duties, so, better discuss it in a nice way so that the defect can be corrected.

I have never understood this either. I have a hard time thinking that I should do whatever my husband wants me to if I don't agree with it. I don't completely submit to my husband, if I did we would be in a lot more trouble than we are in now. Because we would do all of the get rich quick schemes out there! Lol. I feel I am just as important and equal to my husband. I don't think women are less than a man in any sense at all!

I do believe most woman are allowed to do as they wish within reason in a marriage. Granted their are things that do need to be discussed, you know all the important topics. I also believe the husband and wife should take care of each other, they may have different ways of supporting each other, but that is how I see it. No one should put their life "on hold" waiting for someone to decide what they want to do. Men and women should sacrifice for each other, no one partner giving or receiving more than the other.

Oh my, that's torture. If both husband and wife got in to marriage because they love each other, then this scenario can't be happening. Both should love and respect each other. The husband doesn't enslave his wife, and the wife should keep her self worth. I, for one, am not a martyr, and even if I respect my husband, I also want to be respected, and I'm getting it.

I agree with you to a point on this but I really don't think the husband should take the lead and that is where some woman fall into this trap. Both husband and wife should be respectful of each other and it is up to both of them to work together in partnership to make the marriage work. It doesn't matter how they do it but they do have to be in agreement on how it will work for them and they both have to be respectful and loving toward each other. If one is dominating and the other is unhappy then you just have a bad marriage. It is two people working together and it is the only way.

Woman are equal as man and if they see that they will be treated as such . I think it should always be a fifty fifty in a relationship . I would not put anyone above me but as your equal .

For me, I can sacrifice for my husband and he can also sacrifice for me. I am the one working for my family and he's doing the housekeeping. I guess his job is a lot more difficult than mine. I just go to work and look after myself. He needs to take care of our child and himself. He does all the household chores at home. I guess he's sacrificing more than me. In love, you are willing to sacrifice to make your partner happy. I guess this applies to all relationships. We sacrifice for the ones we love. :)

How one-sided! If you love your husband, you know what he WANTS to be doing -which he DOESN'T do because he's got to provide for your family. Wait a minute ... what do you mean 'put her life on hold'? When they get married, 'her' life is OVER (except as she has been preparing it to become 'the couple's' life). That's why I'm not married yet (and it's why I tried to hold a normal job, although it goes against the truth about me): because the first step in getting a wife is PREPARING TO HAVE A WIFE, which I cannot do without an income four times the size of the one I have now! (Oh, I can hold-out until an independent woman pulls a "Sadie Hawkins" on me---tracks me down and woos me (like the infamous woman did in the town Dogpatch to inspire the man-catching race in the musical-drama Lil' Abner); but women are by-&-large too impatient to do that, making my wait hopelessly-long.) I'm a little confused, because your cry over "her wants & needs" makes me think you think we humans are the One who sent us here---and that our job here is to "make ourselves happy." I hope my thinking is wrong on both accounts ... that you think Our Creator is the one who sent us here, and that our job is to 'do what we see him do before us.' Please, explain what you mean by giving examples of 'how husbands fail to do anything for her' and what kinds of 'sacrifices' she must make!

In my opinion, respect should be given any souls in this world. That includes, respecting your husband or the other way around. Some people need not to dwell of an idea of serving all through out, it should be in a two-way process: the give and take principles.

I hope you finished the housework before using your Husband's computer? Seriously though, women should need to be told that they are equal to men - they should know and expect this. No man should treat his woman any less than himself - Lets not forget lads, these ladies have let us see them naked! We should be grateful and humble for that lovely gift

If you're feeling under appreciated, talk with him about it. If he doesn't seem to get it, stop doing all the household chores for a while. He'll shape up fairly quickly.

that was actually an obsolete concept. In modern civilized society now believe in equal opportunity for both male and female. Both party should have to be sacrifice equally and share their views and opinions frankly to make their life easy.

As a man, I never see women this way. I know what you mean and have read and seen the situations you have described. I actually feel sorry for those women for being treated that way and growing up in such a culture. Some people overdo this and really go to the extreme with how they treat their women, most especially their wives and daughters. They say the modern ways are evil, and I wonder what they call their actions then.

In my opinion both husband and wife is having equal responsibility in a marital life. I have also heard religions and people saying woman should be down to earth,should sacrifice everything in her life for her husband and etc etc. But my thought is that if woman could do these all things then obviously the men are also responsible for doing all these. And in my opinion if a man really loves his wife, he will be the first to do all these sacrifices and all.

Woman have the same rights as man. It is their choice to do what they want. People may see it differently, but in reality they can do what they want.

If you want your husband to take the lead, he will do as he please. I agree that women should be able to pursue their own desires and goal, so I would advise you to take the lead. If you take the lead because your husband won't, he may be more likely to submit to your will. If you are making all the sacrifices, and he does nothing, you need to speak to him about your feelings. If you already have, and your situation is unbearable, you may want to consider whether this relationship is worth your pain.