I wonder if he didn't want to talk about the hydrogen car because he didn't understand how it worked. In other words, his wife brings up the subject of cars, something men are supposed to know about, but throws in a little twist, (hydrogen power), about which he knows nothing. So he poo-poos the whole idea, shutting down the conversation before it starts.
Likewise, he doesn't understand about the effects of sexual abuse, so he shuts down the painful conversation (painful for him because it is a minefield where he might step on the "I am stupid" mine as easily as he might step on the "I am unsensitive" mine; and painful for you because, well, it's just damn painful). Maybe if he took the time to try to understand the subject...read a book?
I have read many books and articles trying to understand my wife's point of view on feminism. Now I admittedly know more than I used to, but still think that her opinion is misguided and too broad.
