Out of the married pairs I’ve met in real life, I would say at least 3/5 of them have a very specific dynamic. The wife constantly insults, hurt fully teases and generally degrades the husband. She also generally withholds open affection such as compliments, touch and gifts.

This is my parents. My mom always seems to be mostly irritated with dad. Everything he does at home, every hobby he has, every idea for trips etc, she ALWAYS goes out of her way to ridicule him for it. None of this is very forward. But what makes it hurtful is how constant it is.

Dad almost always goes out of his way to tell me and my brother about how mom is the best mom in the world. All the amazing things about her. He always tries to compliment her cooking, clothes or whatever.

My parents still love each other of course. Mom is generally an amazing person, and dad is a flawed human. But this complete lack of warmth from the wife in many married couples is something I’ve seen time and time again. And it’s so weird that it is never even talked about?

To me, constant nagging and withholding affection is 100% a form of abuse, and has potential to wreck someone’s mental health. Wives incessant nagging of their husbands should not be as tolerated as it is today