Girlfriend
I find it interesting that my male colleagues always seem hesitated to admit they have girlfriends.
Example 1: While chatting with my coworker about his weekend plan and he mentioned that he's going to a celebration party for a friend that just received her teaching credential. I remembered I met this said friend at his house party a few months ago and asked if it is her. He confirmed it is her so I asked "Isn't that your girlfriend?" Finally he relented with "yeah, I guess she's my girlfriend."
I met the girl, she's normal and not ugly; nothing that would cause a guy to be ashame of. Why did he hesitated to admit he has a gf? If he is a player or something, I would understand. I worked with him for a year and from what I know, he seem like a honest good guy. Then what gives?
Example 2: The customer for my program is visiting this week. While making small talks, he retold how he injured his finger while taking care of this plant that he's 'baby-sitting' for this girl that is temporarily leaving the country. An hour or two later, we were talking about his vacation plan for this year, and he said "we are going to ....(the country this girl is at)" I put 2 and 2 together and was pondering if it'd be too intrusive if I asked him for confirmation. Perhaps my curiosity showed on my facial expression, he finally explained that he and this girl has been dating for a few months.
He seem like a really nice guy too. Why didn't he just said "I am taking care of my gf's plant" and "my gf and I will be vacationing..."?
I don't get it. Can someone from the male species enlighten me?
Wife
Most of my colleagues are male and married. After working with them for awhile, stories of their domestic live would come up here and there. I find it funny that they always portrait their families in such a way that the wives are the one wearing the pants (the decision makers).
Example 1: One of my coworker and his wife has been married for decades now. From his description of his weekends and such, it seem like he has a normal happy family and he loves his wife very much. I find it funny that whenever his cell phone rings, he would say "the boss is calling" or whenever the manager wants him to go on business trips, he usually replied with "I need to check with my boss (the other boss)."
Example 2: In my old company, a group of us used to have lunches together. Among them is a happily married male colleague, whom has only one daughter. One time we rode in his new Lexus with GPS system that provide him directions in a female voice. He purposely drove on the opposite directions from what the GPS voice told him to. We were perplexed. He explained this is the only female voice he can disobey so he is disobeying it. I think he is just joking and thought it's really funny. However, from our interactions, I know he is very dedicated to his family and seem to comply with whatever the wife and daughter want.
I wonder, is it more common (maybe even necessary) for a happy family to have the woman (wife) be the one wearing the pants?
