When Women Wanted Sex Much More Than Men
And how the stereotype flipped
In the 1600s, a man named James Mattock was expelled from the First Church of Boston. His crime? It wasnt using lewd language or smiling on the sabbath or anything else that we might think the Puritans had disapproved of. Rather, James Mattock had refused to have sex with his wife for two years. Though Mattocks community clearly saw his self-deprivation as improper, it is quite possible that they had his wifes suffering in mind when they decided to shun him. The Puritans believed that sexual desire was a normal and natural part of human life for both men and women (as long as it was heterosexual and confined to marriage), but that women wanted and needed sex more than men. A man could choose to give up sex with relatively little trouble, but for a woman to be so deprived would be much more difficult for her.
Yet today, the idea that men are more interested in sex than women is so pervasive that it seems almost unremarkable. Whether its because of hormone levels or human nature, men just need to have sex, masturbate, and look at porn in a way that simply isnt necessary for women, according to popular assumptions (and if a women does find it so necessary, theres probably something wrong with her). Women must be convinced, persuaded, even forced into giving it up, because the prospect of sex just isnt that appealing on its own, say popular stereotypes. Sex for women is usually a somewhat distasteful but necessary act that must be performed to win approval, financial support, or to maintain a stable relationship. And since women are not slaves to their desires like men, they are responsible for ensuring that they arent taken advantage of.
http://www.alternet.org/when-women-wanted-sex-much-more-men
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,627 posts)Freddie
(9,267 posts)Probably dates back to the days when childbirth was often fatal and there was no contraception. Can you blame them?
In researching my family history in Cornwall, England, I found that in the 1700s and 1800s, large families were the norm (not surprising), many women died in their 30s as a result of this, and many more women than I would have thought never married.
CTyankee
(63,912 posts)Lesbian women a convenient way out of being married off and suffering and perhaps dying in childbirth. Nuns lived pretty good (and long) lives and its inhabitants survived lots of plagues. Nuns also developed their intellectual capacities.
treestar
(82,383 posts)Maybe women are still seen that way, too. They keep tempting men with their provocative clothing, supposedly.
GeoWilliam750
(2,522 posts)Might the (il)logic be something like....
Since I cannot control myself
I must control you.
libodem
(19,288 posts)I almost didn't make it back. Did any of you see the gay gene article? Good stuff.