] IMNSHO, I don't think that this has changed much. Women are still the primary shoppers in the household. When they delegate the task to men, they provide direction. Just last weekend at the deli counter in the supermarket, I heard a man instruct the counterman, "My wife says to cut it very thin. She wants it thin." His tone was half apologizing for being so picky but he was carrying out his wife's dirctions. LOL. Did you ever see men, presumably husbands, standing around while their wives shop? The awkwardness is written in their body language, and it is, IMHO, a smart retailer who provides a seating area for the men with a TV tuned to the 'game'.

I see this at my job,too-we have a frequent buyer program and usually,if I ask a man if he belongs to it(the program covers the whole family),nine times out of ten,he'll say"My wife is registered" or "Maybe my wife is"! Mrs. Allen is quite right-some things never change:)!