I think in the case of the man who only came out for two minutes, it may be that he made the assumption, usually erroneous, that the women would rather be alone and he would be an intrusion. Another possibility is that he really didn't feel like socializing and because a man wasn't there, he didn't feel particularly obligated besides giving a polite hello.

My husband has a friend where this happens too. Very early on in our relationship we went to their place one afternoon for a BBQ, and once the food was done the TV got turned on to some sport or other and the men (Chris plus his brother and his friend) disappeared into the living room to watch it.

Leaving the friend's wife to clean up and do dishes. Being a well brought up *woman* I would have considered it unforgivably rude to leave her cleaning up while I went and watched TV, so I helped her. There I was, stuck in the kitchen with a woman I'd met maybe once before (or maybe not at all) and with whom I shared no interests and few values.

I was fuming. Not only for being deserted, but for the implication that it was OK for the women to get stuck cleaning up.

On the way home I let Chris know exactly how mad I was and he's never done that again. Not with that couple anyway. But then, we don't see them very often anymore...