How are women in Act 1 of The Importance Of Being Earnest shown to have the upper hand?

During Act 1 of The Importance Of Being Earnest in various parts women are shown to have the upper hand. Before one is even introduced to any female constructs this is made clear. Jack questions 'Why cucumber sandwiches?... reckless extravagance' and the reader is made aware that it is because Algernon's Aunt Augusta and Gwendolen are visiting him. This presents them as having the upper hand as Algernon has gone out of his way in order to impress them. It shows that they are at a higher advantage than he is and he feels he has to prove himself to them. 

This upper hand is further reinforced through the quote 'If Gwendolen accepts me' it demonstrates the fact that she has the upper hand over Jack. She will be the one to dictate and control the status of their relationship. As he is in 'love' with her Gwendolen has the power to either devastate him emotionally, or make him happy. In this section Jack portrays men to be weak and their feelings to be unimportant when deciding fate, the word 'If' accentuates this.