Why did Clarice put up with infidelity in her marriage? Was it the sign of the times?
Created: 04/08/13
Replies: 10
Join Date: 10/19/12
Posts: 22
Join Date: 04/21/11
Posts: 320
Join Date: 04/28/11
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Join Date: 06/13/11
Posts: 37
We always think we might react differently but there is such social pressure to put up a good front - not to let people know that you are involved in a relationship that would be considered a failure.
And women were trained to expect very little from men - if they didn't hit you and paid the bills, you were supposed to be grateful.
Join Date: 04/21/11
Posts: 320
You are so right, tillieh. Its interesting how we tend to make the same mistakes as our parents especially daughters and mothers and, for some people, church has an enormous influence. Its easy to feel like a disappoint to other church members who are often very judgmental.
Join Date: 05/10/12
Posts: 48
I believe it was for a combination of reasons. Clarice was influenced heavily by the church and her mother. She wanted to be that perfect person and as such had to ignore obvious flaws in her marriage. I also believe she truly loved her husband and wanted to remain happy in her marriage.
Join Date: 03/13/12
Posts: 548
I agree with dorothym. How many of us know or know of someone who seemed to have a perfect marriage, and when it "suddenly" ends, there are details of infidelity. And even outside of marriage, in supposedly monogamous dating relationships, how many young women have had broken hearts from infidelity. Hoping for change, not wanting to give up financial stability (particularly in early generations with fewer job choices and extra limitations for women of colr), and on-and-on.
Join Date: 04/21/11
Posts: 281
Perhaps it was a sign of the times. Few of those I know who were married in the 60s have split. Although I know there was infidelity within a few of those marriages, we were taught that "you make your own bed." Individual churches didn't seem to be of consequence, unless the couple was Catholic. As rebeccar writes, financial stability was also a great preventer of divorce.
Join Date: 04/16/12
Posts: 37
A lot of women of that era did not work and relied on the husband to support them. Being thrown out in the world would have been extremely difficult to overcome. Plus the influence of her mother and church probably had a lot to do with her decisions.
Join Date: 12/07/12
Posts: 68
She was his wife, she loved him, he always came back to her and her mother and church put her under pressure to submit. Even when she knew staying was wrong for her, her pastor was telling her it was the right thing to do. It was more prevalent then but to me the key was her love for him.
Join Date: 04/14/11
Posts: 201
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