They didn't didn't want an equal, or to be treated as an equal: they wanted things. The husband is just a means to that. It's a modern, (and sexist) myth that

They didn't didn't want an equal, or to be treated as an equal: they wanted things. The husband is just a means to that. It's a modern, (and sexist) myth that only desperate, destitute women are capable of pursuing materialistic relationships.