One of the challenges facing couples who are working at keeping their relationship together is the “sexing up” of popular culture. With ever increasing frequency, the morals of society are under sexual assault. Whether from television ads focused directly on sexual activity, suggestive lingerie ads or adult situations on programming, couples are bombarded with sexuality. Additionally there are so-called comedians whose mainstay material is of a sexual nature. Even the language of popular culture is now filled with vulgar and suggestive language. It is not surprising that marriages feel like they are literally “up against the world”.
One of the dangers of this constant bombardment is that couples become de-sensitized to sexual talk and activities. Discussions that would have been off limits 10 years ago, due to their vulgar nature are now discussed openly. With the de-sensitizing in conversation, there is also a de-sensitizing regarding behaviors as well. The access to material via technology, whether through DVD’s, the internet or VHS tapes increases the likelihood of couples being exposed to an intensity of exposure that previous generations never had to endure.
I mention this to help those who are working through issues to recognize that the other lover is not ALL of the problem. A big part of the infidelity problem is inherent in the lacsadasical morals so prevalent in popular culture.
Two years ago, I visited a small Caribbean nation, where they had only recently allowed the local population to watch television. Needless to say, the moral standards of that nation are distinctively different than the United States. They had a proportionately significantly lower divorce rate, which suggests that the leaders of that nation may have been on to something when they limited the access of the people to popular culture via television.
Best Regards,
Jeffrey Murrah
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