Equal partners

“You men have to fall in line. Here after, you have to take turns washing all dirty clothes,” taunted Reema, to her husband Rajesh. Reema was referring to a washing machine designed by a Spanish designer Pep Torres which uses a fingerprint recognition technology, preventing the same person from using it twice in a row. Thus, ensuring that men do their share of domestic chores.

But let us not be guided by a washing machine. A couple should value each other’s skills while admitting their shortcomings. Here are a few guidelines. Following them along with sharing responsibility and supporting each other will avoid the war between the two sexes and enjoy a satisfying and stable marriage.

• Relationships between men and women are based on respect that promotes and even demands equality.
• Be open and flexible towards the division of work .
• Intellectually, behaviourally, emotionally and sexually there are more similarities than differences between women and men.
• Be accepting and secure about your masculinity. You don’t need the approval of others, nor should you be intimidated by rigid sex roles.
• Encourage personal and professional friendship with the opposite sex and don’t sexualise these relationships.
• Being confident about your masculinity lets you incorporate activities which have traditionally been labeled for the opposite sex, in your life.
• An intimate sexual relationship is more satisfying if both the partners can initiate and value sexual pleasure.
• Conception, contraception and children are as much the responsibility of the man as the woman.
• A communicative and sharing relationship promotes emotional and sexual satisfaction.                                     

The writer is a sexologist. Mail him at dr.narayana @deccanmail. com