Neo, I think there is a difference in part of what you think of equality and what others may think of equality. Men and women are created differently. We cannot be equal by definition. And while it is good for the woman to work, if she wants, and t contribute monetarily to the family, if she wants, this is not equality unless the man also shares in the chores around the home and the raising of the children. Often this new equality, at least as we see it here in the US and I am speaking only of this personal experience, is that the woman is quite unequal in that she has to work, come home, cook the dinner, manage the house, clean the home, watch the children and still be a wife to her husband. Feminism has created a raw deal for women in many cases and has damaged the natural order of things. Women in American are often half the man and men have become wimps or like children. It is disappointing to see in so many cases. Obviously this is not all, but far too many.
I do not want my wife to be my equal. Do I want her to have some independence, of course, I am not marrying a child, I am marrying a woman to share the lives together, to make decisions together. But there still must be a leader. I knew a couple who kept separate bank accounts, shared the cost of utilities and rent (later mortgage costs). This is not a marriage, this is roommates. There is no one in charge and so they each go their own way.
But I do agree that respect must exist completely. If the woman does not respect the man for his work, whether rich or poor, he will become disinterested in improving and doing better, feeling as though his efforts are not appreciated. If the man does not respect the woman, then he feels he has the right to always do what he chooses and make all the decisions, first in his own interests. It takes a certain level of cooperative thinking to be able to manage equality between men and women without the balance being through off and takes effort from both sides.