Why in our culture do most women feel obligated to wear wedding rings while it seems that it's optional for men?

It’s optional for either party. I think both the man and woman should wear their rings.

What @Facade said ^^

I wear mine every day.

and I’m a guy

I’ve never seen the gender disparity in this situation.
I don’t care if someone wears a ring or not (although if/when I get married, I hope we both do)... I’ve never heard anyone express that it’s weird for a woman to not wear one while thinking that it’s ok for a man.

If had to venture… a responce
I’d say that women like to show that they are attached and men don’t!

With married men, the ring is optional because the ball and chain is NOT.

how cynical.

Women were “chattel” for a long time (and marriage was the transfer of ownership from her father to her husband). The man wasn’t owned as such. It’s not (as) true any more (in the U.S. mainstream), but old habits die hard.

Well, I don’t think that train of thought is true anymore, but it used to be like @laureth said.
I couldn’t wear my engagement ring while pregnant, my hands got too swollen. I looked like an unwed teen haha. I did get a lot of looks, didn’t bother me. I also couldn’t wear my engagement ring afterwards, because my ring size changed. My wedding band fits though, and I never take it off. Neither does my husband. He got a cheap band, because of his line of work..his band is all scratched up already, so it’s easily replaceable.

Great question. I have been thinking for some time about asking this. My husband injured his hand at work a few years back and he had to have his ring cut off. In his line of work, it can easily get caught on equipment and he can get hurt. I try not to let it bother me, but sometimes it does. It is just a ring. What matters is that I know that he loves me. I think women may just be more sentimental when it comes to these things.

@jonsblond Aww how awful that he had to have it cut off :( My father cannot wear a ring to work either. I think if it’s between having your finger ripped off, or wearing a ring..I’d rather the guy not wear the ring.

@casheroo We’ve actually considered getting tattoos on our ring fingers. Problem solved! :)

Thinking about it, I don’t recall any marrieds I’ve known not both wearing a ring. Only recently have I met a married person who chooses not to wear a ring even though he bought one for his bride.

I am a woman who rarely wears my wedding ring. My husband has never taken his off.

Facade: of course it’s optional, it’s just traditional for women, of course nobody’s forcing them.

it’s traditional for both parties…

Never could stand having anything attached to my hands/no ring. Husband loved wearing his ring because it gave him something to fiddle with. When we adopted our (adult) son, we bought him a ring with 3 colors of gold intertwined. He’s married now
but he still wears it.

I would go with the practical. When I got married, I worked with my hands with some extremely heavy and dangerous equipment. I had heard stories of rings getting caught on equipment or rings being smashed on hands, so I declined to wear one. With my SO’s approval, I traded the ring used in our ceremony for a fine gold necklace, which I have worn continuously ever since.

It’s less likely that a woman will get her ring caught in a machine at work.