My father z’l used to recall an old saying from one of his rebeim, he who takes every midrash literally is a tipesh, and he who takes no midrash literally is also a tipesh. The trick is to know which is which. I think this one falls into the category of not literally, because if any of those discussing it had actually any experience of real life, real ups and downs in a marriage, and real relationships that you need to actually work at every single day of your marriage, they wouldn’t waste their time worrying about dominating their wife. They would work on mutual respect, interdependence, and building a good home for kids. And even when you try it doesn’t always work. The whole concept being suggested is mind bogglingly obtuse.
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