I asked you about Khadija, because you seemed most interested in women's right to work, and I felt that her example would be an interesting point to consider. I really think you would find her life rather interesting!

With regards to your question about men being allowed multiple wifes (although this is discouraged), but not women - this is an important question to ask. Allow me to pose a question back in return. Knowing who both one's parents are is considered important in Islam. Lets say a woman may have multiple husbands such as the men, time must be spent equally with each during the week. How do you know who the father is of a child?

Muhammad remained a single father for a long time after Khadija's death. When thinking about his later wives, it's important to think about who they were, and what they each brought to Islam. Apart from Aisha, all were divorced or widowed. Khadija was a brilliant business woman who employed Muhammad, and then proposed to him due to his character. Aisha was a brilliant scholar through whom we get a vast majority of hadith. Hafsah preserved the first written collation of the Qur'an. Many were active politically. Each was brilliant in their own way, all very different, each an inspiration to different types of women. Within his wives, there therefore exists a precedent for women to be whoever they want to be. - with proof that it is accepted within Islam.

It is really important to separate culture from Islam. It's true that some parts of the Islamic world have expectations such as you describe, but these stem from culture rather than religious teachings.