BEYOND THE BEDROOM DOOR
In many societies, an extreme discomfort with discussing sex makes it a strictly forbidden topic, even within families. This is reinforced by the absolute rejection of any intimacy before marriage. The result is that countless married couples privately face severe bedroom problems but feel they have no one to talk to. With open discussion totally eliminated from the social sphere, they are left to believe this painful silence and sexual incompatibility are simply a "normal" part of marriage, leading them to stay in deeply unhappy unions. The situation is compounded by a stark gender double standard. Men are often granted social license to talk, joke, or even boast about sex, while women are categorically forbidden to do so. This imbalance becomes weaponized in the event of a divorce linked to sexual dysfunction. In cultures that tie male identity to sexual performance, a man's problem is seen as a humiliating failure. To swiftly cover their son’s perceived weakness, the ...
