What does it mean to wear the pants in the family?

Sounds like an authoritative rule to me. The husband might be the head of the family, but the wife controls it. Do you agree? Can't both partners wear the pants ideally?

Agreed, in today's economy and my children's generation it is necessary for both partners to "wear the pants" in the family. Of course if the man is Scottish....he could wear the Kilt

Anyone ever seen the movie, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"? There's a line from that movie that I love. The mother is talking to her daughter and tells her, "The man may be the head of the household, but the woman is the neck, and the neck tells the head where to look."

I think this is a very individual choice among families. Myself personally, I believe in a man as the leader of his family. His decisions should be based on the needs of and the best interest of the family, but ultimately, he's the man. It may sound out-dated but I spent a very long time "wearing the pants" in my family and what I realized is that I want a strong man to lead. I want him to do so with strength of character, understanding and love, but I want him to lead.

Ofcourse de r equal on al d basis
But ere in our lang der is a sayin whose rough meaning is 'if husband is d head of d family den wife is d neck'
Smart ppl try figurin out to yoself

I had to be the leader in both my marriages. I'd like a strong partner this time who wouldn't be afraid to speak her mind. Just so I could relax and leave the driving to her sometimes. I be lazy.

From Phrases.org

Wear the Trousers:

Meaning

Be in charge.
Origin

To be 'wearing the trousers' is to be the dominant member of a household. In the days that this phrase was coined that person was normally expected to be the husband and father. The only reason to employ the phrase at all was to relate it to a woman, with the implication that the normal order had been overturned and that a woman was dominant over her husband.

The phrase was known in the USA from the late 19th century. It probably originated there as printed reference to it elsewhere don't appear until well into the 20th century. The Manitoba Daily Free Press used the term in November 1880, in an article about the domestic life of White Indians and their squaws - who we would now call Native Americans:

"The squaws are very beautiful and are as fond of ornaments as Indian women usually are. The women are called ladies and they sometimes wear the trousers or boss the white Indians, their husbands."




Now back to me!





Back in the day all the way up until the 1940s it was rare for women in America to wear pants. Back then it was considered completely unfeminine to wear pants. Annie Oaklie performed in a dress when she rode and target shot. Calamity Jane however did wear pants and was considered an enigma among American women.

Likewise men were supposed to be in charge of the household. This assumption was reality back then. Only a rare few women actually did things like Business ownership since many were supposed to be "Housewives."

The phrase also was used reflexively as an insult referring to men with nagging and domineering wives. There are a number of Warner Brothers cartoons from the 1930s and 1940s revolving around this very idiom.

I do............end of story....

Humm ohh yeah I'm the only one there so someone has to wear them..

Who's in charge if everyone is naked?

The guy with the longest dangly parts?

I wouldn't mind if the man wants to wear the pants in my family.. I'd actually prefer it.
Problem is... some of today's men want to wear my dress over top of the pants

If that's the case... I'll wear the pant suit and be on my own

well I know where my pants are when I take a bath.

E is for Pants!



Yeah!

Is that archaic expression still being used by people?

I think that both can share the responsibility of "wearing the pants". Each person has strengths and weaknesses in a relationship. So why not let each take charge of what they're better at? As long as they're still communicating with each other I don't see a problem with them sharing the role.

I think it would be idea if both wore them otherwise its just like Get Smart with Control and (Kaos)Chaos. Realistically speaking, the balance of power is not easy. If the ying and yang of a relationship swings too much one way balance is forfeited.

They let me wear the pants once, I was so nervous, I poopyed them.

I'm attracted to men who are confident enough to not have to be in charge all the time. They don't worry about being head of the household, in charge of finances, rules and whatever else. They're fine with things being much more equal.

and what if the man of/ in the house is a cross dresser who likes dresses...what then...
(Saw a survey some years back from England that found 17% of men out of 2000 wore some item of women's clothing(usually lingerie) and that 46% said they'd like to wear a dress/ skirt to work or at home if they could...shame that survey wasn't done in North America!
I'm fine with it, I go to the Rocky Horror Fests...

OMG I loved that movie. I'm too lazy to take a pic of my game room...Needless to say, The poster's up in there (ha). I pulled this from Photobucket instead

Well, then go to the movie fest in your favourite character's costume the next time one is held in town...or one close by, if you dare not show up 'in drag' as it were. You'll have a great time as lots of people usually show up in the hundreds...