Equality of men and women in marriage Equality of men and women in marriage From a 1986 Pastoral Letter of the Irish Bishops Love is for Life People nowadays have higher expectations from life and especially from marriage. They expect more from marriage than formerly, both in terms of personal and emotional and sexual satisfaction and in terms of material well-being. High expectations can often cause deep disappointment and frustration. New styles of relationship between the sexes have developed.
Women have much more social freedom and more job openings and career opportunities than formerly.
The equality of women and men is recognised to a greater extent. Many married women are nowadays more economically independent of their husbands than formerly, whether through personal earnings or through social security. All this calls, however, for adjustment in the traditional roles of husband and wife. When this adjustment does not take place, tension and conflict can result. The feminist movement is having an important impact on the context in which contemporary marriage has to be lived.