Now imagine if women were truly equal, to the point where they earned the same. Then there wouldn't be that much of a legal obligation for the other parent to get squeezed for child support. Often, alimony is the way the society in general says "sorry ladies, you'll never achieve what you could if you were male, but take this as an apology".

The "squeeze" for child support is because it tends to be the wife who bears the child, breast feeds it and provides the nurturing seen in many mammalian species. This often means that mom takes time out from her own career or becomes a full-time mom because dad is doing well and earning plenty of $. Then if there is a split, it is hardly fair for mom to be left with minimal earning potential while dad lives the high life.

IMHO there *is* sexism in many areas, especially business, even at the highest levels. However, in professions like medicine a woman with the same qualifications and experience as a man will earn the exact same $. Some women find it difficult to compete in areas like obstetrics if they have their own kids, because they don't want to be at work all hours of the day and night. However, I know several female obgobs whose husbands happily stay at home and act the housewife because their spouse earns so much more.