Is a married couple obligated to have sex?

Contributor: Ciao. Ciao.
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
"At least I did"...right, you did. Sex is not the only reason to get married and it certainly shouldn't be a driving force, either. For all any of us know, it's a marriage of convenience and she could have been talking about having ... more
Completely agree.

I do not think sex and love or sex and marriage need to be directly related. I know if my partner and I were not having sex it would be a sign of some issues in our own relationship but I absolutely will not judge this woman's motives.
10/04/2011
Contributor: Eucaly Eucaly
It's completely her right to say no, though one hopes that the husband had been told this might happen before the wedding.

However, I believe under many places' legal codes it is also his right to get the marriage annulled (not just to be divorced, to actually get it annulled) if he wishes, because of her refusal.
10/04/2011
Contributor: indiglo indiglo
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
"At least I did"...right, you did. Sex is not the only reason to get married and it certainly shouldn't be a driving force, either. For all any of us know, it's a marriage of convenience and she could have been talking about having ... more
Exactly. I agree 100%. I find it odd to even discuss someone else's sex life.

Funny, but if someone had found a sex dungeon in her home and chastised her for it, many here would probably be defending her right to have that. Sometimes, whichever end of the spectrum we're on, we think the other end is weird and needs help. That isn't always the case though.
10/04/2011
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by AndroAngel
As a Demi, I know what it's like to have no sexual desire for someone and still feel emotional attachment. There are plenty of Aces (asexuals) in relationships and married, without sex. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH ASEXUALS!!! This is super ... more
But, if she is an "asexual" her husband should have been heavily forewarned ahead of time.

It isn't fair to spring something like this on someone after a wedding has taken place.
10/04/2011
Contributor: AndroAngel AndroAngel
Quote:
Originally posted by P'Gell
But, if she is an "asexual" her husband should have been heavily forewarned ahead of time.

It isn't fair to spring something like this on someone after a wedding has taken place.
He may very well have been forewarned, none of us know the situation. My comment was more directed at everyone who said that there was something wrong with her for not wanting sex and that marriage can't exist without sex than about the woman involved, because there is no way to know the situation without asking her.
10/04/2011
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
"At least I did"...right, you did. Sex is not the only reason to get married and it certainly shouldn't be a driving force, either. For all any of us know, it's a marriage of convenience and she could have been talking about having ... more
And those issues are things one deals with, hopefully in therapy, before one gets into a relationship where sex is the norm. No, she isn't here "to defend herself" but I don't see a lot of defense, if she misled the husband. If she hadn't misled him, I doubt she'd be telling people and there wouldn't be a discussion. Right?

Some girls want the "Fairy Tale" Wedding and plan and plan and then get freaked out when they are expected to behave like partnered adults after they are married and the excitement of planning the wedding is over and done with. We don't know this isn't the case and it's a good bet it is.

Stormy, you said I know it's hard to believe, but there are people who simply don't want to have sex. Ever. Yes, it's hard to believe. Totally. Sex is part of being an adult for the most part. For many people parts of life are scary. One can hide and refuse to participate, or one can get in gear and have a more full life with full participation. (I've struggled with agoraphobia. I could make excuses and never leave the house and try to make people think it's a "valid life choice (which it isn't)... or I could push myself and GROW into a more whole human being. It's a very similar situation. One can do nothing and stay stagnant, or one can learn, grow and participate.)

Some people are asexual, but any one they decide to partner with should KNOW and be totally aware of what to expect before any terminal plans are made and permanent decisions are made.

Plus, I think this being a Sex Positive website, seeing this as any kind of common thing is more difficult for many of us here than even the general public. And, I think even the general public would find this unusual.

This just hit me hard. I don't see a lot of defense for misleading a partner and then not having sex. She's going to end up alone, and wonder why?

Again, mileage.
10/04/2011
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by P'Gell
But, if she is an "asexual" her husband should have been heavily forewarned ahead of time.

It isn't fair to spring something like this on someone after a wedding has taken place.
You're right, it isn't fair to just spring something like this one someone. It's also not fair to be discussing this woman's sex life. You never, ever know what is going on behind closed doors. And there's usually a very good reason for that.

What if, by some really strange stretch of the imagination, she stumbled across this post and realized she was the topic of the discussion? I know if it were me, I would be extremely upset and it would probably hurt me very deeply that a group of strangers were making all of these inferences without ever having a single intimate detail.

You don't know anything about this woman's life and neither does the OP, as stated the woman in question is a client. Not a friend. Nowhere in the original post does it say "please give me advice so I can help her in her marriage". And it shouldn't. Because it isn't any of her business.

I'm backing out of this thread. It's nothing more than gossip and I refuse to be a part of it any longer. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings and I have heard you and I'm glad you are able to apply those thoughts and feelings to make your own marriage successful.
10/04/2011
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
You're right, it isn't fair to just spring something like this one someone. It's also not fair to be discussing this woman's sex life. You never, ever know what is going on behind closed doors. And there's usually a very good ... more
I think we are discussing this as more of a rhetorical theory.

The OP isn't identified, nor is the woman in question. I doubt if this woman exists in this situation, she's trolling sex toy sites for any reason. Nor would she have any reason to link herself to this post. I find it highly unlikely that there would be any link between this person and this site in any way.

Again, it makes for interesting rhetoric.
10/04/2011
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by P'Gell
I think we are discussing this as more of a rhetorical theory.

The OP isn't identified, nor is the woman in question. I doubt if this woman exists in this situation, she's trolling sex toy sites for any reason. Nor would she have any ... more
Which you know, for a sex positive group of people is kind of silly, no? Of course we're going to say that sex is important in a relationship with the caveat that asexuals are the exception. Still, it's gossip. And you never know who is doing what on the internet. I've certainly run into people in places I never expected.
10/04/2011
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
Which you know, for a sex positive group of people is kind of silly, no? Of course we're going to say that sex is important in a relationship with the caveat that asexuals are the exception. Still, it's gossip. And you never know who is doing ... more
No. I think this is an important issue for us to discuss. And to be honest, with 6.2 billion people on the planet and millions of web sites, I have no fear that this particular person would run across this sex web site, identify herself in it, and somehow get upset.

Too many "maybes" and "could bes" to worry about this happening. People discuss a lot of things on this site.

What we do here is discuss things. It's, like I said, rhetorical. I think it's an interesting look into human behavior, personally.
10/04/2011
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by P'Gell
No. I think this is an important issue for us to discuss. And to be honest, with 6.2 billion people on the planet and millions of web sites, I have no fear that this particular person would run across this sex web site, identify herself in it, and ... more
How can it be an interesting look into human behavior when the only behavior we're being shown is one sentence from a private phone conversation? We don't know the reasons behind it...if we knew the reasons, then yes there would be something to discuss, but we don't.

Now, I would totally be on board with this if the question had no reference of the person's conversation and was simply asked as "is it important to have sex in a marriage or do you think you could be in a sexless marriage".
10/04/2011
Contributor: Yaoi Pervette (deleted) Yaoi Pervette (deleted)
I don't believe in forcing anyone to something which they are not comfortable with doing, but I cannot understand why she wouldn't want to have sex with her husband after a year. Something is definitely amiss there.

I believe that pleasing one's spouse is a two way street. It's not just the obligation of one spouse to please the other. They should please each other.
10/04/2011
Contributor: Darling Jen Darling Jen
While some of the people here have very strong opinions on how it would affect them, I feel everyone is being pretty considerate and open to discussion of the the theoretic situation, not the woman herself. If we, as a very open-minded, contemplative, diverse, and welcoming group, can't discuss what part sex plays in a marriage (if at all) then who will? Discussion leads to new ideas, to converting close-mindedness to an open heart, to an appreciation for what we have, to knowledge about ourselves and what it is we seek in our relationships, to what would be ok for others to experience.

A sex positive community is not the antithesis to abstinence. It's being accepting and open to all ownership of one's sexuality, whether there is any activity or not. So for those who are honestly asexual, we should be able to discuss the lifestyle and all come to a better understanding of what it is and if we think it's "heatlhy" or "natural". It's no different than us being supportive of virgins who just haven't found "the one" yet.

I do really like the point that P'Gell brought up though. Is asexuality more of a phobia or chemical imbalance? Is it a defect or an equally acceptable lifestyle like heterosexuality and homosexuality? It's good for us to all weigh and work through the "if, but, when, how" stuff.

I do think it doesn't sound like it's mutual asexuality. If it was, there wouldn't be a third party speaking for the husband's behalf on why she hasn't had sex with him yet. If he were ok with the situation, the third party would be speaking about the two of them equally. And it sounds as though the woman got defensive, suggesting fear or nervousness, rather than a flatline desire for sex that has already been discussed with her partner.
10/04/2011
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by Darling Jen
While some of the people here have very strong opinions on how it would affect them, I feel everyone is being pretty considerate and open to discussion of the the theoretic situation, not the woman herself. If we, as a very open-minded, ... more
Thank you, you made a lot of sense, Jen. If we, as a very open-minded, contemplative, diverse, and welcoming group, can't discuss what part sex plays in a marriage (if at all) then who will? My point, as well. Not this particular women, singled out, but the entire idea of sexless relationships, or sexless people. Yes, we should discuss it.

My personal opinion may be different than someone elses, but we all have an open forum here.
10/04/2011
Contributor: averageguyextrodinarypleasure averageguyextrodinarypleasure
I think sex is an important part of married but at the Same time no one should be forcing you to do anything. Sounds to me like they just need to have a discussion about her feelings and why doesn't feel "ready"
10/04/2011
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Darling Jen
While some of the people here have very strong opinions on how it would affect them, I feel everyone is being pretty considerate and open to discussion of the the theoretic situation, not the woman herself. If we, as a very open-minded, ... more
On the topic of asexuality in general, I have met two people in my lifetime who describe themselves as asexual. In their particular situations they explained to me that they enjoy the idea of sex but not the physical sensations that come with it. One woman enjoys going to BDSM events and teasing men while reveling in their desire for her. She tells her partners straight up that she does not feel pleasure while engaging in sex and that they are free to do to her what they will, just don't expect her to participate. I.E. and in her own words "she's a dead lay".

Both women enjoy the emotional aspects of relationships and want someone to share their life with, but they are usually rejected as a longterm prospect because of their lack of want for physical intimacy. One woman settled down with another asexual woman. They share their life and financial responsibilities and for all intents and purposes act like a married couple, but without the sex. One might go so far as to call them kindred spirits who've been lucky enough to find one another.

In my opinion, I don't think it's a chemical imbalance or defect at all. It's just who they are. Though I will note that one of the women has severe bi-polar disorder and the other sits somewhere in the middle of the autism spectrum, leaning more towards Aspberger's. Whether one has to do with the other, I'm not qualified to guess. But, I do know that hyper-sexual activity is a symptom of bi-polar disorders and one typically finds themselves making poor sexual decisions instead of abstaining all together.
10/04/2011
Contributor: The Mother of a SiNner The Mother of a SiNner
Quote:
Originally posted by ToyGurl
I was at a client's home the other day, and as I was setting up my presentation, she was in the kitchen on the phone. I didn't mean to listen in, but I couldn't help up overhear. She was talking to someone she knows well (probably a best ... more
all i can say is wow
10/04/2011
Contributor: Gunsmoke Gunsmoke
Sounds like a completely contrived premise - I don't buy it at all.
10/04/2011
Contributor: Paladin Fantasys Paladin Fantasys
I want sex more often (daily) than my wife does (few times a month), we make it work, but I think she would leave me if she didn't get her few times a month. I love my wife very much, but I would need more than masturbation if I couldn't have sex with her, then we wouldn't have monogamy, or safe sex if it did eventually happen.

I agree with Gunsmoke, seems contrived, making my sexual head spin.
10/04/2011
Contributor: Sensual husband Sensual husband
I can't imagine ever not wanting to make love to my wife.
10/04/2011
Contributor: Avant-garde Avant-garde
Quote:
Originally posted by AndroAngel
As a Demi, I know what it's like to have no sexual desire for someone and still feel emotional attachment. There are plenty of Aces (asexuals) in relationships and married, without sex. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH ASEXUALS!!! This is super ... more
I agree with this.
10/04/2011
Contributor: Airen Wolf Airen Wolf
Quote:
Originally posted by ToyGurl
I was at a client's home the other day, and as I was setting up my presentation, she was in the kitchen on the phone. I didn't mean to listen in, but I couldn't help up overhear. She was talking to someone she knows well (probably a best ... more
Ummm you aren't considered married by most churches until you have completed the "wedding night". In fact the Catholic church wil grant an annument if you can prove there were no relations!
That beng sai if her husband is content to wait then it's really between them as to when or if they have sex. Marriage is about more than sex between a couple.
10/04/2011
Contributor: Peggi Peggi
I think without understanding the dynamics of the relationship or marriage or the couple as individuals it is impossible to actually say whether it is right for them to be or not to be having sex. For all we know, she has suffered some traumatic experience which has caused her to avoid sex. For all we know, he realized this before getting married. As for the possibility of her coming across a post on a sex toy site, it is very possible. Just because she is afraid to or doesn't want to have sex with her husband doesn't mean she doesn't use toys, or that they don't use them on one another. It is possible.

As for the question at hand, I've dated people who were connected to me but did not want to have sex. To me, sex doesn't define a relationship. You can satisfy someone in other ways, and you can make someone happy and please them without sex being involved. If you were to take sex out of my relationship I would be fine, I have my toys, and I enjoy spending time with my guy just watching TV, talking, cuddling, etc. Sex is wonderful and a bonus, but it isn't what makes me love him. The fact that he is a wonderful person who treats me right is what makes me love him. The fact that we have an emotional connection is what makes me love him.

For some people they require sex and for others it can be there or not, and then for some they don't want it at all. And that is up to each individual couple, because for some couples it just works out that way.
10/04/2011
Contributor: Darling Jen Darling Jen
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
On the topic of asexuality in general, I have met two people in my lifetime who describe themselves as asexual. In their particular situations they explained to me that they enjoy the idea of sex but not the physical sensations that come with it. One ... more
I am very glad they found each other because happiness is what matters the most. And that's another good question. As far as I know or have read, asexuality doesn't seem to have a connection to autism or bipolar disorder but who knows!

And it does sound like it could be both a chemical/ mental/ biological defect as well as a viable life choice. It sounds like the first women is sexual but that there's something going on in her body that causes the physical sensations to be completely unenjoyable for her so she's conditioned herself to not want or expect it to ever happen for her. And that's heartbreaking because it sounds like she has a genuine appreciate for the sensual and sexual.

Now whether or not people choose to seek treatment is completely up to them. After all, if they are happy with themselves and honest with their partners, then it's totally their life.
10/04/2011
Contributor: Ghost Ghost
Why does everyone assume the man will automatically cheat on her if she chooses not to have sex with him? I go through depressed periods where I don't feel like having any intimate contact, and that includes sex, and my husband doesn't just go out and hump anything that moves. He knew about my "problem" before he married me (we've been together for years). >_>
10/04/2011
Contributor: Kkay Kkay
Every marriage is different. Her situation sounds strange to me, but I don't know all the details and I am not the one in the relationship. I can understand why he'd choose to leave, but I don't think that should in any way indebit her to have sex with him.
10/04/2011
Contributor: wetone123 wetone123
Quote:
Originally posted by Gunsmoke
Sounds like a completely contrived premise - I don't buy it at all.
I'm starting to think the same thing.
10/04/2011
Contributor: Rin (aka Nire) Rin (aka Nire)
I don't see anything wrong with married couples not having sex - so long as that's what they're both comfortable with. Love is where it's really at, after all. But if one partner doesn't want to have sex and is being pressured by the other, then a trip to the marriage counselor might help in finding a solution. I don't think anyone should feel "obligated" to have sex, regardless of the situation... that just seems really wrong and, frankly, sick to me.

Ideally, this would be an issue that the couple would sort out before they get married. Waiting until after the fact just seems like a divorce waiting to happen.
10/04/2011
Contributor: JaneDoe ToyCollector JaneDoe ToyCollector
This is weird.I'm inclined to know the full situation now. :/
10/04/2011
Contributor: catgirl9 catgirl9
I think that marriage can totally last without sex, and still be a great marriage. My husband and I went through many years having sex very rarely due to the birth control I was on. It brought us so much closer together and I wouldn't change a minute of it. Basically removing sex from our marriage allowed us to focus on everything else and we learned so much about each other, even though we'd already been together for years. Sure sex is great and wonderful, but not necessary, for us anyways....as long as you have love.
10/04/2011