Isn't gender Equality a Reality?

I am the daughter of a bengali mother who dared to take mathematics (instead of arts, which was the trend among her peers) as a subject of honors in graduation, in the late 1970s. I am the progeny of a bengali engineer father who never differentiated between his son and daughter. I was made to believe from the early nineties of the 20th century that men and women are equal. But, here i stand a decade into the 21st century and a colleague tells me that the philosophy of gender equality is Utopia.
I defended the reality of equality by reminding him about the women in Europe & US who are so fiercely independent and empowered at every place starting from home to office. He thinks that the empowerment has lead to increased number of divorces and dis-functional families in Europe. My colleague (let's name him Mr X) believes that a woman is responsible for construction or destruction of a society, which is directly proportional to her ability to sustain her marriage.

I might sound naive and lost, but am shocked to be exposed to such archaic thoughts, specially at my work-place in a liberated city like Mumbai.

I fail to understand how an educated Mr X maintain such thought process or beliefs. I had a short exposure (in terms of time-period) to the European culture and lifestyle for a year and I was delighted with the freedom enjoyed or rightly experienced by all women. 

The human species has but two types- male and female, I fail to understand why they cant be enjoying equal social, political & economic status. It is a right that should come with birth but was taken away in some instance in history & has sustained in most parts of the world.

Women are strong forces, but why does it have to be their responsibility alone to sustain a marriage or a family. Why can't they be the force at a work place instead of being one at home. Why cant the society allow the woman herself, to choose what she wants to prioritize or balance. All members, irrespective of their gender are responsible for proper functioning of a family or a relationship. A family or relationship works similar to a human body. In a human body, every organ has a part to play, none of them are dispensable, none can work less or more to keep the body functional. If educated men of this century deny equality of genders as reality then it is difficult for the society to sustain. If men still think they are the brain of the family and women just the limbs, following the brain's instruction then it is difficult to understand how the society has progressed through-out the ages. Women alias the mothers cannot be then made responsible to impart education to their children, the future of the world, the society. If women lay the bricks to a child's thought-process then going by Mr X, women shouldn't be able to imbibe the ability to think straight or make independent decision to their kids.

I have never believed in the concept of feminism* or the requirement to have reservations for any service. But, after this encounter am rethinking about it. If education is unable to change the thought process of a modern man then perhaps only a force or revolution of feminists will be able to make gender equality true in developing countries like India.

I know a lot of male readers will say that the man, Mr X mentioned in this piece is rare. But I know they are either ignorant of the truth or just simply lying to themselves. Ask your-self will you happily let the woman in your life, lead you economically or socially, at good and bad times? If the answer is yes and the votes are more on the affirmative end, then I am just encountering the wrong man and am happy about it.

Votes please!

Feminism refers to political, cultural, and economic movements aimed at establishing greater rights and legal protections for women