Sex permeates our culture and is present in places other than the home, such as the job, the street, and the media. However, despite all the focus and even fixation placed on sexual activity, human sexuality continues to be perplexing and unsettling. Authentic sexuality is hard to define in a sexually oversaturated, postmodern, and increasingly heterogeneous society. However, based on this week’s readings, authentic sexuality in marriage is being in tune with sexual lives while keeping a healthy and meaningful connection with God (Balswick & Balswick, 2019). All beings are sexually imperfect and incomplete, so no one can fully embody authentic sexuality.
Authentic sexual closeness is more enticing than superficial romantic ideas translated into media. It is much better for a couple to put effort into sexually knowing one another. Everybody has assets, flaws, and insecurities that they tend to hide from others. The difficulty in a relationship is enabling themselves to be the best version of themselves and having faith that their spouse thinks highly of each other. According to Balswick & Balswick (2019), gaining prestige, power, and renown increased masculine honor in Mediterranean communities. Women maintained family respect by maintaining their sexual purity. In contrast, males were humiliated when they lost a competition or when their women’s purity was compromised.
In other words, women want emotional safety and intimacy to engage in sexual activity when relationships are having trouble. That makes it impossible to improve the marriage since one of the main reasons why people’s problems are not solved is because they do not have enough physical and emotional intimacy. Therefore, to move from inauthenticity to authenticity in their marriage, couples need to understand each other’s needs.
References
Balswick, J. & Balswick, J. (2019). Authentic human sexuality: An integrated Christian approach (3rd ed.). Downers Grove.