I recently observed the following conversation:

Muslim Female: I have nothing whatsoever against gays, but I do despise feminists.
Other Person: So you believe that women are inherently inferior to men? That's a fascinating thing for me to try to understand; that people would willingly regard themselves as inferior. I just can't comprehend that attitude.

Of course she didn't think women are inferior to men, and she explained so.

However, one way of looking at it is that males and females are biologically different. Women menstruate and carry children; men do not. There are consequences that arise from these small biological differences.

For example, some households may prefer for one parent to stay at home. Given the biology, it may be more convenient for that person to be female.

In today's western societies, both men and women are expected to work full time jobs. Unfortunately, this leaves families scarcely better off today, than they were in the 1950s.

When families have dual incomes, they can afford to pay more for housing. Since housing is largely a competitive good, the price of housing has grown, inflation-adjusted, in tandem with women entering the work force. It has grown over time by about a factor of two. What used to be an advantage - a family having two incomes could afford more - is now a necessity: both parents have to work in order to keep food on the table. Few people can afford to stay at home all day to take care of the house, and watch over the kids.

While the liberation of women who wish to pursue jobs and careers is welcome from a humanistic standpoint, this may be an example of how something that starts out as an optional opportunity for some, ends up being compulsory for everyone.

Feminism has largely destroyed the traditional model of a male provider, female housekeeper that many, many people - not just men - were comfortable with, and regret losing.

If you're a woman who cherishes her career, that's great.

If you're in one of the many middle income families where the mother must work full time to help pay a mortgage, even though she'd rather stay at home and take care of the home and kids, it's not so great.

Stay-at-home moms have become a luxury of the well-off.