Respect is earned.
You can't asked people to respect you. With some oppression, people may be expected to respect you, but true respect comes when you practise what you preach. When you do your duties and obligations first before claiming your rights. When you stay true to your words.
The society is changing nowadays, which makes it harder, especially for a man, to earn respect. Back in my grandparents' era, all his kids would never dream of answering back whenever he said something. He was the law, the law reinforcer, and the punisher of outlaws. But then, he was the sole breadwinner of the family. He worked his ass off to feed 7 children and a wife and did a great job fulfilling their needs.
These days, men demands the same respect from their wives and offspring but when you're not the only person earning an income in the family, you gotta work harder to earn the respect you need. Sometimes men forget, but we women still appreciate men who go up there and fix the light bulb. And even though many women can buy their own cars and wash them, it just feels right when a man go out there and wash them. Or when your neighbours park their stupid car in front or your garage and makes you late for work, it's really nice when your man talk to them and fix the problem.
Many men think they must do something big to earn respect. But sometimes the little things they do every day count more than one blast that happens once every year. I think the majority of women, despite the mumbo jumbo about emancipation, still wants their men to be supportive, protective, strong (both in character and physic) and most of all, dependable. When the man of the house do this, they will the respect they deserve, no matter who brings home more bacon.
PS: I found this blog about respect which is worth reading. The picture above is taken from the blog.
