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of maintaining emotional integrity and stability in relationships, suggesting that this expectation is unfair and outdated.