[lbo-talk] Re: arranged marriages (was surveys prove men dumb, women smart)

Dwayne Monroe idoru345 at yahoo.com
Wed Dec 10 08:19:48 PST 2003


Wojtek wrote:

A better, more effective way [to organize marriage] is to create an institutional framework to that end, similar to that found in business [...] with a contract that outlines specific rights and obligations of each, party, means of enforcement, penalties for non-compliance...

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I like to test ideas by applying them to real-life situations. Doing so reveals the difficulties (perhaps insurmountable) found within central assumptions.

For example...

A woman I've known for some time complains about her husband. Her complaint is the stuff tabloid tv dreams are made of: his libido has disappeared. He works absurdly long hours for a financial firm and when he comes home late, weary and drained, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak because it needs sleep.

She didn't mind at first, their children were small and her hands were full; but now she minds quite a bit. From her point of view, he is neglecting his responsibilities as regards physical intimacy as spelled out (vaguely) in their marriage vows.

First she was understanding, then she was hurt; now, she's quite angry.

Today, these sorts of issues are handled (if at all) through marriage counseling and other tools of the middle classes and above.

How would Woj's new *institutional framework* address this problem?

DRM



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