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Why did Clarice put up with infidelity in her marriage? Was it the sign of the times?

Created: 04/08/13

Replies: 10

Posted Apr. 08, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
bjm

Join Date: 10/19/12

Posts: 22

Clarice

Why did Clarice put up with infidelity in her marriage? Was it the sign of the times?


Posted Apr. 08, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
rebajane

Join Date: 04/21/11

Posts: 320

RE: Clarice

Maybe a sign of the times. Sometimes a woman in a relationship like that stays out of fear of being alone or fear of trying to make it on ones own. Its easier to do that these days. I also think they truly loved each other and sometimes that's more powerful


Posted Apr. 09, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
tillieh

Join Date: 04/28/11

Posts: 71

RE: Why did Clarice put up with infidelity in her marriage? Was it the sign of the times?

Rebajane: I agree with you, but I also think that her mother and her church had a lot to do with it. Her mother dealt with the same issue and kept a blind eye to it because of the influence of the church.


Posted Apr. 10, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
dorothym

Join Date: 06/13/11

Posts: 37

RE: Why did Clarice put up with infidelity in her marriage? Was it the sign of the times?

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.


Posted Apr. 10, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
rebajane

Join Date: 04/21/11

Posts: 320

RE: Why did Clarice put up with infidelity in her marriage? Was it the sign of the times?

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.


Posted Apr. 11, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
malindan

Join Date: 05/10/12

Posts: 48

RE: Why did Clarice put up with infidelity in her marriage? Was it the sign of the times?

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.


Posted Apr. 12, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
rebeccar

Join Date: 03/13/12

Posts: 548

RE: Why did Clarice put up with infidelity in her marriage? Was it the sign of the times?

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.


Posted Apr. 13, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Suzanne

Join Date: 04/21/11

Posts: 281

RE: Why did Clarice put up with infidelity in her marriage? Was it the sign of the times?

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.


Posted Apr. 15, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
BamaCarol

Join Date: 04/16/12

Posts: 37

RE: Why did Clarice put up with infidelity in her marriage? Was it the sign of the times?

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.


Posted Apr. 19, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
kathleenr

Join Date: 12/07/12

Posts: 68

RE: Why did Clarice put up with infidelity in her marriage? Was it the sign of the times?

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.


Posted Apr. 24, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
susanr

Join Date: 04/14/11

Posts: 201

RE: Why did Clarice put up with infidelity in her marriage? Was it the sign of the times?

I think it was a sign of the times. Women didn't work and had no income and needed to rely on the man - even if he was a womanizer. Plus divorce was not accepted in the 60s and 70s like it is today.


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