Philippians 2:3-7 (NIV)
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. [4] Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. [5] Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: [6] Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, [7] but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

Equality in a relationship with a female bodybuilder is an interesting challenge. She considers herself better in body and appearance when her partner is not a bodybuilder. I may be more educated and cosmopolitan, but when we are in her town, her language and her culture, my own inferiority in language and local knowledge is acute. How she treats me in this situation, is an interesting test of character.

She is not a patient educator, nor is she a compassionate support. Overall, she is focused on her own needs in training, rest and diet. Thus, she will send me out on errands such as getting her breakfast or dinner, providing DVD entertainment and cleaning up after her. She did arrange for laundry, take me to places to eat, introduce me to some friends, show me some of her regular hangouts and we drove past a couple of places that may interest me. She did not take me for any tourist or historical sites, and she refused to let me see the dormitory where she normally stays. Apparently I am not allowed to enter the dormitory as I am a male non-relative.

So in terms of equality, she has some 'no go, non-negotiable' areas of discussion and co-operation. I don't think I have anything like this, but maybe I have not discovered them yet. We rarely come to a compromise decision, as she normally insists on her way, follows me, or reluctantly agrees with me. I feel that I give in a lot, just to keep the peace.