Gender does not make you a man or woman - 2

In our societies especially in the Arabic and Islamic World, there exists a culture of male dominance over women for many reasons such as a specific interpretation from the Holy Quran, traditions or the needs and desires of some women who are submissive by nature.
One of the arguments that I had with one of my male friends was about our rights as men to dominate the decisions about the future of our wives, daughters and sisters. He supported that right by using the verse from the Holy Quran: "Men are the protectors and maintainers of women." (An-Nisa: 34).
He argued that we as men have the full right to control women. I however cannot blame him because in Islam we have a lot of interpretations of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah and yet I accept and believe when I realize that it makes sense to me. The same is mentioned in the Christian teachings, which say that man is the head and the crown of the woman. However, the words 'protectors' and 'maintainers' in Islam simply means 'managing.' It is the man's responsibilities to manage the businesses of his home and help his mother and sisters whenever they need him.
He is the one who spends and not the one who waits for his wife's salary at the end of the month to spend it. It is also very natural and normal and the right of the woman that he discusses domestic issues with her and ask her opinions. God says: "Live with them on a footing of kindness and equity" (An-Nisa: 19). Living with them on an even footing of kindness" means that everyone should respect the other, respect their minds and respect their opinions on all life's issues as well.
How many of us are following the teachings of our religion? Men are running after working women, not because they believe in their working rights but they look at the marriage concept as a financial project where the man can use the income of the woman as an investment. On the other hand, some women do the same and run after men for money rather than out of respect for the man. It is not a shame if the wife or husband gets support from his or her partner but the shame is in living a materialistic life away from the core concept of being humans