Then a women's rights activist arrived in the country and (slowly and steadily) managed to make slight differences. She always used reasonable arguments ("What if the only male was seriously ill, and needed medical help? If the women of the house could not get help he could die"; "Suppose the only male was away on business and the household ran low on food?"; "What if he and she wanted to talk while they were out? They didn't want to have to shout to each other"). Eventually it was commonplace to see couples walking together talking about things, and single women getting the shopping (and so on).
Then there is a serious conflict and, for their safety, all foreigners leave the country. Eventually the conflict is over and the country becomes safe to return to. The activist goes back and is horrified to see that things are far worse then when she was last there. Women only go out with men, are 10 or more paces behind, with their heads bowed submissively, looking at the ground. The activist cannot get any woman to explain to her why there has be such a massive backwards step for Women's Rights in the country, until she finally sees a woman (out with her husband, 20 paces behind) that she got on well with and who had been a major part of the campaign. This woman does talk to her (although she seems distracted; avidly watching her husband). The activist asks "What is going on? You were able to go out on your own, and walk alongside your husband. Why has there been such a massive change?".
The woman quickly looks around, mutters one word into the activists' ear and then hurries off after her husband, following precisely in his footsteps;
- Spoiler: show
