The problem with “equality” in marriage is that it can induce a kind of confusion with “sameness” and a constant awareness of who is ahead and who is behind. It may produce more competition than cooperation. A better marriage goal is “oneness” where appreciation and cooperation and compensation for each other’s weaknesses can produce a synergy where the total is greater than the sum of its parts.
Hydrogen, by itself, is a gas possessing many unique properties. Oxygen is another gas with its own set of qualities. But when they are combined, in a committed, fused sort of way, they become marvelous, clear, flowing, life-giving water. In a similar way, a man and a woman, involved in and committed to the Oneness of their marriage, can continue to each possess their own individual qualities even as they combine them into a wonderful, synergistic union where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
For additional insights on the idea of oneness in marriage: