Question

8 multiple choice 2 points

the popular attitude during the colonial era was that marital sex was

healthy and normal
repressive
infrequent and stigmatized
only for purposes of reproduction
a gift that women gave to their husbands

Explanation:

Analyze the historical context of colonial marriage

In Social History and the study of Colonial Marriage Customs, historians have debunked many modern myths regarding early American attitudes toward intimacy. While Puritans and other early colonists are often stereotyped as highly repressed, their actual laws and writings show a different perspective.

Examine Puritan and colonial views on marital intimacy

Within Puritan Family Life, marital sexual relations were viewed as a necessary and positive component of a healthy marriage. It was considered a duty of both spouses to provide mutual affection and comfort, not merely a means for procreation. Failure to maintain marital intimacy could even be grounds for legal action or divorce.

Evaluate the given options

• "healthy and normal": This aligns with historical evidence showing that colonists viewed marital intimacy as a natural, healthy, and expected part of a successful marriage.
• "repressive": This is a common modern misconception rather than the actual historical attitude within marriage.
• "infrequent and stigmatized": Intimacy within marriage was neither stigmatized nor encouraged to be infrequent.
• "only for purposes of reproduction": While reproduction was highly valued, marital sex was also explicitly recognized for mutual comfort and affection.
• "a gift that women gave to their husbands": This does not reflect the reciprocal, duty-bound view of marital relations held during the era.

Answer:

• healthy and normal (Correct answer)
• repressive
• infrequent and stigmatized
• only for purposes of reproduction
• a gift that women gave to their husbands