Very true, Marcia. I too think that this is more about anyone's nature being squished, not just men's nature.

For me, I had an adventurous nature but men I dated weren't comfortable with me working in law enforcement or military or backpacking in the mountains by myself. Unlike the men in these stories, I chose to not be with someone who was going to squish my nature. I imagine that if I had made myself give up what I wanted to do so that my husband or family didn't worry about me, I'd have 'behaved' for a decade or so but eventually have rebelled and ran off to go do my own thing, refusing to be suppressed any more. I already feel like a bit of a rebel because I refuse to wear high heels:)

I do love seeing when women--and men--support their partners' natures, encouraging them to do the things that make them feel alive. I love seeing how good their home lives are when they allow each other to be who they are.