When Wives Earn More: The Hidden Stress on Husbands

A man joked that his wife was the boss at home. He laughed, but the comment stayed with him. He started avoiding social events and had trouble sleeping.

Hung earns about $670 per month. His wife's online business brings in around $2,500. She handles the money and makes big decisions. At first, Hung thought this was practical, but he started to feel left out.

Hung needed a new laptop for work. He was too proud to ask his wife for money, so he hinted at it. His wife asked if it was necessary, making him feel like he was begging.

Hung stopped talking about money and felt like a stranger at home. When his wife surprised him with a laptop, he felt embarrassed, not grateful.

Men often feel pressure to be the main earners. This can cause them a lot of stress.

Hung's stress turned into anxiety. He went to the hospital, where doctors said he had an anxiety disorder.

Minh, another man, earns less than his wife. When people praise his wife for supporting the family, he feels resentful. His wife's income is around $2,500 per month.

Minh takes care of the household chores. He wakes up early, cooks, drives the kids to school, and does the laundry. People call him the 'ideal housewife' because of this.

Minh laughs at the comments, but deep down, he feels bad about himself. He feels like he's not a good man because he's not the main earner.

Minh works extra hours and gets exhausted. He drinks, gets angry, and locks himself in his room. He's also struggling with anxiety and insomnia.

These stories show that many men are stressed when their wives earn more. A study found that men are least stressed when their wives earn about 40% of the household income.

A survey found that many Vietnamese men want counseling for career and financial stress. But they often don't seek help because they feel they need to be strong.

Men are taught from a young age that they need to be the main earners. When they're not, they feel like they've failed as men.

To feel better, some men work too much, which can lead to anxiety. They also might drink or do other harmful things to cope with their emotions.

A doctor says that when men earn less than their wives, they can feel worthless. Men often don't talk about their feelings and instead do harmful things to deal with their emotions.

To fix this problem, we need to change how we think about men's roles in the family. Men can provide emotional support and help with household chores, not just earn money.

It's essential for men to seek medical help if they're struggling with their mental health. This is not a sign of weakness, but a necessary step to prevent a breakdown.

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