When we had a discussion that I wasn't happy with the decline in the frequency of our lovemaking, we entered into an agreement for a once-a-week date night, but lately it's really been making me feel rejected, like he's only putting out to live up to the bargain--which is making me feel less desirable than ever. My self-esteem is really suffering because the sexual side of me is so important. There are, of course, different reasons why someone wouldn't find someone else sexually attractive. He grew up with images of women from comic books and movies, both of which he still avidly consumes. Intellectually, he understands from a feminist perspective what such images do to women, but I don't think he's grasped the idea from a psychological perspective.

I guess what I'm trying to say here is that I don't look like Uma Thurman. I'm constantly battling my weight, while he, through unswerving diligence (and good genes, I'm convinced), has a very cut bod. We've talked about having me take another lover, but I'm really not interested in anyone but him. And the thought of him sleeping with someone else--presumably someone he would find more sexually attractive--really upsets me.

Can a marriage work out when there's a sexual problem like ours going on? It isn't a case of needing counseling or anything--we are able to talk through our feelings very easily--it's just that he doesn't find me desirable. Everything else is great. Think we should call off the wedding?

Wedding Bell Blues

My first thought upon reading WBB's letter was that her fiancé probably has a lower sex drive than she does, and she was misinterpreting this as rejection, and she shouldn't compound her misery by comparing herself to Uma Thurman. He wouldn't be marrying her if he wasn't in some way sexually attracted to her. Right? Then in I read the second letter, which was from WBB's fiancé...

My turn. I'm the het white mail engaged to Wedding Bell Blues. We have a terrific home life. I enjoy her company, and love coming home to her every day. She is a beautiful person whom I love dearly and am looking forward to spending the rest of my life with.

But whereas we are compatible on so many levels, we just can't seem to work out our sexual problems. I may not have a handsome face, but I am on the buff side of fit, while she is cute, cuddly, and as they say, leans toward the Rubenesque. She has a strong sex drive (to put it mildly) and is still wildly attracted to my body, while I am, sadly, attracted to a different, more stereotypically pretty body type.

I realize that this problem of ours stems from my inability to be turned on by women who do not fall into the media's conception of beautiful--I get my kicks from the Uma Thurmans of this world--but I don't know what to do about it. When WBB and I are having sex, I fantasize about curvy movie stars or porn queens to get off.

This has led to feelings of rejection, inadequacy, and low self-esteem in WBB. While I am theoretically in favor of taking discreet lovers on the side, to satisfy her need for frequent sex and my attraction to a different body type, the logistics of working out secondary relationships doesn't seem worth it. Of course, STDs would be another problem.

So as our wedding day approaches, we remain stumped and increasingly uneasy. Should we call the whole thing off simply because only one aspect among many is not working in our relationship, or should we go ahead and continue to get off by infrequent sex (for her) and fantasies and masturbation (for me)?

No Sex Please

Hey, Wedding Bell Blues and No Sex Please:

DO NOT GET MARRIED! WHAT ARE YOU TWO THINKING?!

The importance of sex in marriage can be overstated--the importance of sex can be overstated, period (especially in sex advice columns). It is, as NSP says, only one aspect. But the importance of sexual compatibility within marriage, at least at the starting gate, cannot be stressed enough. "Sexual compatibility" does not mean going at it like howler monkeys at every opportunity; it means having similar sexual expectations--at least being on the same page.

Listen, Ms. WBB: Your expectations can not be reconciled with NSP's attitudes. You're in love with him, you're physically attracted to him, and he--BY HIS OWN ADMISSION--finds you physically repulsive. If your sexual side is so important to you, why would you even consider marrying this man?! Some sexual problems can be worked out, but a complete lack of physical attraction on one person's part (to say nothing of a complete lack of consideration or empathy) is one that date nights and cut-rate feminist blather cannot fix. If you do marry him, your feelings of rejection, inadequacy, and low self-esteem are only going to grow, and will--if you have a spine in that Rubenesque bod of yours--turn to feelings of despair, anger, and rage. DO NOT MARRY THIS MAN.

Now, Mr. NSP, just what kind of sensitive New Age sadist are you? Is destroying this woman's self-esteem giving you some sort of thrill? I can't think of any other reason why you would be in a romantic relationship with a woman you are not in the least bit physically attracted to, other than the sheer pleasure of making her miserable. You both describe your relationship as open and communicative, but there is such a thing as too open and too communicative: sometimes "honesty" is thinly disguised cruelty.

When you realized that WBB did not in the least bit attract you, you should have quickly and respectfully ended this relationship, without going out of your way to tell her that it was because, oh, her fat ass makes your dick go limp. By drawing this out, you have turned what could have been a short-lived, fondly remembered affair into a self-esteem-destroying virus that could eat away at this woman for the rest of her life. If this is how you treat a woman you love, I'd hate to see what you'd do to a woman you dislike.

WBB, you need to get out. NSP, you need to get help. But whatever you two do, DO NOT GET MARRIED.

letters@savagelove.com