My ex long-term partner of 10 years went through a couple large spans of time where they couldn't find work, and so ended up being stay-at-home. This wasn't a huge problem for me because my income was enough to support the both of us pretty comfortably, but I knew they didn't feel great about not finding work :/

We had a pretty serious disagreement at some point in their long period without work, and the night after that happened, I considered the possibility that they might feel like they're being coerced into staying because they don't have a way to leave without being made poor if they did.

We already had a shared checking and savings account, but I knew they probably wouldn't feel comfortable pulling from that if they wanted to leave (even though they would be right to take some of it; it's theirs too), so I set aside a few thousand dollars and sent that to a checking account that only they have access to. I told them that if they ever feel like they were staying for financial reasons that they can use that as a safety net to help with becoming financially independent. I wanted them to have something that only have access to or knowledge of so they could leave on their own terms if they ever needed to. It's not perfect, but it would have covered rent and cost-of-living for them for a few months if it ever came to that.

That probably has the potential for the other person to take advantage of, but we were together for a long time before and after that, and when we did end things, it was mostly amicable, and I don't regret setting up a no-questions-asked way of getting out in the least bit.

On one hand, I like the way the article ends. On the other hand, I’m amazed that people need to be told these things.

“I know that not everyone’s gonna agree with me, but I want all women to be financially independent,” she says. “We live in America. Last I checked, it’s a capitalist society. If you don’t have money, you can’t do anything.”

YES. Don’t set yourself up to be a victim. Also, remember that if you’re unmarried but living off your partner, you have NO safety net. Working at the grocery store is nobody’s dream job, but at least it’s something. One of the defining characteristics of adulthood is being able to live independently. That needs to take priority over being in a relationship.

Trad wife = Maid-mom-slave with benefits

I'm seriously appalled at how brainwashed a woman has to be to agree to something like that... and guys who dig it, are just sick abusive intellectual buffoon sociopaths.

Either form a partnership, or go watch some porn, FFS.

You double posted this btw.

Everyone needs a plan B I guess. Making yourself dependent on someone else is obviously not a path to independence.