"My husband and I have what one could call a "traditional" marriage: He works, and I tend the home. Since we're child-free and I already finished college, I suppose you could call me a trophy wife, but firstly, I'm nonbinary, and secondly, that's the rub. On paper, not much: I read a lot, I tend to my hobbies, I attempt to bake, and I spend time with my husband."
"He handles all the boring life matters like bills for us and I dote on him. Making sure I want for nothing satisfies him, and being cared for so wholly pleases me. It may not be "feminist" to others, but for us it's blissful. We contribute differently to our life together: He provides all the concrete trappings, and I provide the immaterial."
A nonbinary partner describes a household where one spouse earns income while the other manages the home, cultural life, and companionship. Strangers react negatively and label the arrangement unequal or misogynistic when hearing "I don't work," which hurts the non-working partner. The couple divides responsibilities by preference: one partner handles finances, material needs, and cooking; the other provides intellectual stimulation, cultural enrichment, and emotional care. The arrangement brings mutual satisfaction despite outsider judgments. Critics and objections exist across communities, and responding to or ignoring strangers becomes a key interpersonal challenge for preserving the couple's chosen dynamic.
Read at Slate Magazine
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