if a man chooses to be promiscuous, he may still turn up his nose at promiscuity. He may still demand a woman be faithful to him, to save him from his own lust. But women have lust, too. Why should they be relegated to the position of custodian of emotions, watcher of the infants, feeder of soul,body and pride of man?
Sylvia Plath highlights a contradiction in societal expectations regarding sexuality. She points out that a man can engage in promiscuity while simultaneously judging or rejecting it in others, particularly women. This hypocrisy creates a double standard where men are allowed to explore their desires without facing the same scrutiny that women do.
Moreover, Plath emphasizes that women experience lust just as men do but are often reduced to traditional roles that prioritize caregiving and emotional support. She questions why women are expected to shoulder the burden of maintaining emotional integrity and stability in relationships, suggesting that this expectation is unfair and outdated.