Exactly. A good woman supports her man (and is supported in turn, of course), and doesn't do anything that could be seen as "talk[ing] back." Doesn't mean I always agree with Mr. Mantooth, or that I always keep my disagreement to myself, but on the rare occasions that I do disagree and am certain I'm right to disagree, what I do can hardly be called "talking back." I start or speak up in a discussion, the kind mature adults have. Frankly, I don't need to "talk back," because I am not "ordered around like a child." The other day I drove my older daughter's fat friend home from school. She told me some long rambling story about how her dad got fired from his last job because he called his boss names or got into an argument with his boss, because according to her he was abused as a child so he is very defensive of his family, and angry in general (fats always gotta have an excuse for their shitty personalities and behavior, of course). Anyway. The reason he was so "defensive" and called his boss names is because his boss apparently called his wife names, or said something insulting about his wife (Fat Friend's mom--who is also fat, though not AS fat, and who seemed nice when I met her but is clearly trash--what we in St. Louis would call "a hoosier," which is not to be confused with Indiana hoosiers), who the boss apparently did not like because--excuses again!--the boss was a sexist or whatever who didn't like women who "talk back" or are bossy/pushy. The point of me telling this story (I considered making it its own submission, but don't think it rises to that level), is my confusion and horror at the idea of giving my husband's boss a reason to hate me by being a snotty, bossy bitch in his presence/giving him a reason to think I am a snotty, bossy bitch. Like, what the hell conversation happened when Fat's Mom met Fat's Dad's Boss that made him see her that way? It's possible he's just a good shitlord, I guess, and didn't care for the trashy fat woman, but wtf? Mr. Mantooth has never had a boss who didn't adore me, because I know not only my place but what my job is when I meet Mr. Mantooth's bosses: be charming, be nice, be supportive, say something flattering, look adoringly at Mr. Mantooth, stay out of any discussion of the actual business, always be ready to change the subject or start one if need be or to help out Boss's Wife with something if need be, stop drinking at a mild buzz and do NOT go beyond that, and generally make myself as delightful a dining or drinking companion as possible. (Mr. Mantooth was once in a meeting at work, in a discussion about women with his bosses and some other guys, and made some comment about how his wife wouldn't agree with whatever it was someone had said. Boss said to him, "That's because your wife is a lady. A real one." Still makes me smile.) When I'm at one of his work events or even just stopping in to his office, I am at work, too. I bake for their potlucks and bake sales, I go to their charity events, I basically do whatever a loving and supportive wife would do, because that's what I am and that's my job. So the idea of tromping into my husband's workplace and acting like a big bossy "talk back" bitch is just...wtf. Only a fat thinks that kind of behavior is something to be proud of.