Marriage is prostitution... well that is an ill-conceived perspective. The idea that anyone would continuously have sex that wasn't enjoyable for them is mind blowing to me - whether in a relationship, single, or prostitute (hate the term). I wouldn't do it - I wouldn't sell my existence for a house, a car, or for all of the money (or insert whatever) in the world. (I was homeless at 16 and a survivor - there is always another solution beyond fucking your way to comfort - unless trafficked of course).
I don't need anything from DH but as I stated previously his presence enriches my life (in many ways), and I quite like having a partner with which I can communicate without words. We read each other's cues and respect boundaries as not doing so would be a deal breaker i.e. transgressions require discussion, reflection, and closing discussion. We love each other deeply, we laugh heartily, and sometimes cry in happiness as well as sadness - we hold each for no reason and for all the reasons.
Having a healthy marriage can mean different things to different people depending on their needs/desires. Because I've never looked to a partner (male or female) to fulfill my needs I see the assertion of marriage=prostitution as seeking to diminish mature partnership in order to discredit those of us that create our happiness and enjoy sharing our lives with a partner not based on need. There is no exploitation here, there is no need to stay, but there is a partnered commitment to being happy as individuals and enriching life for each other (and our 'team' - four of us if you count the dogs).
Asserting this ridiculous claim that marriage=prostitution is seriously incompetent, ill-informed, and emotionally unintelligent. Dworkin doesn't have a clue in this regard (as evidenced by her writings), and quoting her writings like they are a bible of sorts isn't doing you any favours
I have known/do know many women (some family, some acquaintances, some friends) that feel men and marriage are responsible for their stations in life. None of them were forced into their marriages or got pregnant and felt they had to get married. They made decisions in the US or UK to get married and built their lives based on what they believed would make them happy (another person, financial stability via another's efforts, etc.). Their biggest mistake is depending on others for their happiness. You are responsible for creating your happiness, you are responsible for your education, you are responsible for your earning potential/career (beyond pay gap, opportunity gap, pregnancy prejudice), and if your body is able you decide whether or not to have children. These are your choices, your responsibilities - if you can't raise a child without partner support you may want to reconsider being a parent as there is no guarantee that the partner you marry today will be the same person in 10/20/30/40yrs (or be alive or maybe you won't be alive to raise them - you rarely can predict tragedy). I'm not saying don't have children, I'm saying ensure prior to having kids that you can provide for them and access non-partner support sufficient for the health, safeguarding, and stability of the possible child(-
If you hate men because of your choices it has nothing to do with men, it has to do with choices you made that you dislike/hate. Giving men more power by making them the writers of your story is a great disservice to all women. Write your own story, enjoy sex (if you wish) monogamous or not, and forget about blaming yourself - just make better choices (picking the wrong partner is a choice you make even if you were misled).
Not only heteros get married (I'm Bi, could have entered into any number of commitment types or avoided monogamy altogether) and many of my married friends are lesbians (married to other female lesbians). How do you reconcile hetero "prostitute" marriage and homosexual marriage?
Reposted ^^