[gascan]

There is a category of women whose life-plan is to go to university, meet a smart boy there, marry, and become a stay-at-home mom.

There isn't really a category of men who go to university to find a spouse and then become a stay-at-home dad.

No judgement on either; but a man who is not successful professionally is generally seen as a deadbeat and has few prospects. A woman has additional options aside from professional success.

So, what your parent is suggesting is that men have fewer options, so the pressure is higher.

There's also a whole discussion that argues men are not attributed any intrinsic value; their value is all rooted in their success, in what they have accomplished. Women on the other hand, the argument goes, are always attributed intrinsic value. Even if they are not famous, or wealthy, or educated, they are still valued. I can't really pose that argument well though, just thought I'd mention it.