by Opal Minott

Created on: November 29, 2009   Last Updated: November 30, 2009

A husband's behaviour can force his wife to be unfaithful and vice versa, because both men and women have sexual and emotional needs which can only be net by an intimate partner. Being in a marriage implies that the couple is aware of and desirous of getting those needs met. If they wanted to be celibate, chase or single then they would not have chosen to get intimately involved. Being married also implies that both parties have some qualities that made them desirable to the opposite sex. They possessed sex appeal and other qualities that attracted their partner. Therefore, as it relates to wives, other men will be attracted to her and could probably be waiting in the wings for a chance to get her for themselves. If a man behaves in an abusive or neglectful manner he could force his wife to be unfaithful.

A woman is by nature vulnerable to the effects of her husband's behaviour. This has its root in the biblical statement thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee Gen 3:16This statement implies an emotional need within a woman for the love, nurturing and companionship of her counterpart. If the man forfeits his responsibility to his wife, she will have a void and as the saying goes, 'nature abhors a vacuum'. A woman with a void or vacuum is slowly losing the valid sense of being loved. If nothing is done about it she will slowly and painfully lose her mental health.

By nature a woman is a receiver, she is not physically designed to be a giver. Her sexual and emotional fulfillment becomes somewhat dependent on the giving of her male counterpart. There is a certain vulnerability that is a part of being a receiver (T.D, Jakes 1998:13) this idea supports the biblical statement that a woman's desire is toward her husband. In addition, it implies emotional dependency, which is healthy in an intimate relationship and has to be mutual and equal. When a husband withdraws himself he is demonstrating an unhealthy independence thus creating an imbalance in the relationship.

According to T.D Jakes a woman "was meant to be covered and originally Adam was her covering, to nurture and protect her." (1998:31) He also said the married woman is covered by her husband. The single woman is covered by her chastity and morality. It is dangerous to be uncovered, he said. When a husband migrates to live overseas with no immediate plans to reunite with his wife, his behaviour results in her being uncovered. The covering of the woman who is married was removed when

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