Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

I don't know how to deal with this.

14 replies

FuckNuggets · 31/03/2019 02:53

Background - been with DH for 25 years, married for 20. Two teenage DDs and a grown-up DSD. Met when we were quite young, in our early 40's now.

Our relationship has always been fairly stable, we've been through some ups and downs, almost split about 10 years ago but managed to come back and have been happy together since.

We've always fairly similar left-wing political views. And have managed to mostly agree on the important things and the little things seem unimportant.

I'm fairly political minded, it's always been a big part of who I am, I've always been opinionated and loud. Blush We met when I was 16 and I was as opinionated about my views then as I am now. What I believe in hasn't changed, I've always been a feminist and I'm loud about women's rights. They're important to me and form a large part of my personality. I've also been an atheist since I was about 12.

DH has always been religious on a relatively small scale. He's never really settled on a religion, trying different ones on for size over the years. Although always Christian religions. We've always managed to somehow find a common ground and create a balance between his beliefs and mine.

We brought the kids up as non believers, although they did attend a primary school that leaned towards CofE. Now as teens dd1 (16) is a complete atheist and dd2 (13) believes in god but doesn't follow any religion.

In the past year or so DH's religious beliefs have slowly gotten more and more "conservative" I suppose. To the point where now he's against abortion, gay people (! Hmm) birth control Hmm etc. We've gotten into some major arguments in the past year where I've seriously thought about whether I can continue to be with him. So far we've managed to plod along by avoiding all these subjects.

Sometimes he'll go into preach mode with the kids, DD1 shuts him down completely will walk out of the room and call him quite a few names that I won't repeat. DD2 will listen more and try to debate but mostly rolls her eyes.

It came to a head on Friday morning, we were walking the dog in the park just having general chit chat when I brought up that case that's been in the news recently about the mum in the US who complained to her son's college because the women wore leggings. Hmm I brought it up in a rather jovial manner, my view being the woman is obviously being ridiculous. I never expected that he would agree with her! WTF!

We ended up getting into a massive argument in the park, at one point another (female) dog walker who'd been walking not far from us commented, (on the obvious ridiculousness of it all) and then wished me luck! I said to him that I couldn't believe a man with 3 daughters could hold the belief that women shouldn't wear leggings!

I threw all manner of counterarguments at him, including his hypocrisy about birth control considering he's had a bloody vasectomy!

He watches a lot of bible videos on youtube, you know the type American preacher, creationism (which he now believes in Hmm), etc. Which is obviously fueling this. This kind of extreme thinking isn't necessarily new before we got married he considered becoming a Mormon. He decided against it when I told him I wasn't converting, which was a requirement as we were "living in sin" at the time.

Now I find myself at a point. How do I carry on a marriage with a man whose views are polar opposite to mine? If he'd had these views when I met him 25 years ago I wouldn't have looked twice at him, let alone started a relationship and had kids with him.

We're on talking terms at the moment just to be functional. This morning he tried to initiate sex, but I pushed him away. Although I love him and fancy him, I'm repulsed by his views. How can I have sex with a man who thinks women hold some responsibility in the way men react to them?

As far as the type of person he is, he's the last person you would expect to hold views like this. He's nice, gentle, easy going, rarely raises his voice. Fairly low key. Which is why I think I've been able to gloss over his views for the past year or so. But now, when they're just staring me in the face I feel like a bloody traitor if I was to sleep with him again or carry on this marriage. It's going against all my beliefs.

As far as the practical side of things goes, if we did split up we would have to stay living together. Atm we're on benefits, dd1 has Autism and I'm her carer, he was made redundant last year and hasn't been able to find a job so far, and even then he's only ever earned minimum wage. So financially splitting up really isn't an option. He doesn't have any family he could move in with, his parents are dead and he doesn't speak to his brother.

I don't know what the fuck to do. Confused

OP posts:
HennyPennyHorror · 31/03/2019 04:11

Well you say splitting isn't an option because of finances but you haven't GOT any finances. Why would you have to stay living together? Is it a council house that you're both named on?

I could NOT be with someone who was homophobic, sexist and so up his own arse that he thought leggings weren't ok.

You don't need to worry about where he'd live. Unless you're both on the tenancy? Do you own a home? What's your situation?

Cherryberrypie · 31/03/2019 07:10

If you forced your DH out of the family home, then he could very easily become homeless.

Single men are the bottom of the list when it comes to council accomodation. Private landlords are usually reluctant to offer a tenancy to unemployed people. So, to kick him out of his home just because he doesn’t conform to your political beliefs would be a bit harsh.

He is entitled to his views just as you are entitled to yours. If you can’t live with that then you should leave.

You may need to find a job first though so you can pay your own bills.

TowelNumber42 · 31/03/2019 07:13

When he gets a job he'll have less time to spend on youtube. Concentrate on him getting a job.

shiveringtimber · 31/03/2019 07:22

He sounds troubled and confused, likely depressed. I don't think I would be able to end such a long-standing relationship if my partner was in such a vulnerable and difficult position unless he was abusive.

HennyPennyHorror · 31/03/2019 07:25

Cherry what a crock of shit. Why should OP leave? You say why you think the DH should NOT leave but why should OP leave?

CupoTeap · 31/03/2019 07:30

He should be spending that time looking for a job rather than pray for one.

Cherryberrypie · 31/03/2019 07:30

Because she is the one that is unhappy. Her DP is entitled to his view, if she can’t stomach that then she knows where the door is.

LizzieSiddal · 31/03/2019 07:37

I agree that if he had a job and was mixing with people in a daily basis, he’ll have less time for you tube.

I also agree that asking him to leave is not something you should do. He’s got no job so would end up in a hostel: if he’s lucky! I just couldn’t do that to the father of my children, u less he was abusive.

If I were you I’d try to get him to focus on job hunting and once he has a job and enough for a flat deposit to rent, ask him to leave.

RickOShay · 31/03/2019 07:46

I think you can work through this. These are not deeply held beliefs, I think they are more a reflection of confusion, than a serious indictment against women.
Don’t give up just yet.

Robin2323 · 31/03/2019 07:55

I agree.

I think his employment situation is given him to much time to think and be 'influenced ' by you tube vids.

I like a good debate but maybe nows not the time and it would be better to let it go over your head.

'Yes dear that's one way of looking at it. ' then ' so what's for tea / on tv / etc.

category12 · 31/03/2019 07:55

Is he on the spectrum himself?

Cyberworrier · 31/03/2019 08:03

I don’t think anyone should be entitled to hold explicitly homophobic or sexist views, considering we are in the 21st century. If he is “playing” with this as an identity, I would make it clear he has a choice between that and being a full member of your family and household. He’s an adult who apparently previously was not a monster or a moron, he needs to wise up.
I would be concerned about the effect on young women on constantly receiving such negative messages from someone who should respect them and encourage them. It sounds like they are strong minded intelligent girls but having such bigoted rhetoric thrown around all the time could affect their self esteem and mental health at an age when they are very vulnerable.

Thatnovembernight · 31/03/2019 08:09

I wouldn’t want to be with someone with those sort of beliefs either. I agree with the other posters who say he needs to get back to work and stop dicking about on YouTube. Make it clear to him how his newly held ‘beliefs’ are changing how you feel about him.

NotTheFordType · 31/03/2019 08:09

Is it since he lost his job that he's become an idiot? If he gets another job do you think he'll improve?

New posts on this thread. Refresh page