Would you agree that for most of human history men and women have not liked each other and most marriages have been either utilitarian?

[Anonymous]

I get the impression that many men have viewed women as inferior and that in turn many women feared and resented men up until recently

Agree

Disagree

[Lliam]

I disagree. Going all the way back to ancient times, history is replete with stories of romance. I can think of fables from ancient Ireland, Greece, Britain, medieval Europe, the renaissance, among Native Americans, American pioneers, farmers, miners, tradesmen, and even affluent people. There are many instances of deep love and respect, husband and wife working as a team.

Of course there are also examples of brutes domineering over women, treating them like shit, and causing deep pain and resentment.

But I don't think it's true that most marriages in the past were adversarial or merely utilitarian.

[OlderAndWiser]

I don't care about history or other people's marital experiences because my marriage is not obligated to follow any well-worn path. I simply need to mindfully lead my marriage in the right direction and all else is irrelevant.

[Chazmatazz269]

Not at all. There was a time when men and women valued and honored the ways in which we complement each other. Then the capitalists made us competitors and everything has been “The Battle of the Sexes” ever since.

[slatyb]

There are two clauses in your question. The answer to the first part is no, I don't agree. The answer to the second part is yes, that's historical fact.

[Ariesman81]

I think we hate that we like each other.