Domination

Why is it that in marriages, there is always a dominate partner? Most of the marriages that I know of have a fairly apparent dominate partner of the pair. Often times, they are the more aggressive, angrier one of the two.

Is it necessary for their to be a "dominate" partner?... if so, can that person be the Alpha without holding their position by being a bully? Does leadership always have to come by intimidation, or can it come through consent?

My parents have a good marriage. They are both crazy stubborn, but they both really respect each other. I suppose my mother plays the submissive one, but she certainly stands up for herself. Fortunately, my father respects her enough to never run over her. Really, I think my parents marriage is kind of like our system of government. My father is the Senate and my mother is the President. My father makes the laws, but my mother still has some amount of veto power and the capacity to start legislation herself.

Do you think that this whole dominate/submissive trait usually found in relationships is necessary and inevitable, or could it just be a byproduct of selfish people?

In an ideal marriage or relationship, could two people be actual equals?