The right to say no to sex, even after 20 years of marriage

On election day, we talk about coalitions, promises, compromises and every citizen's right to have a voice. But negotiations also take place in relationships: Who initiates intimacy, who responds, who gives in and who feels unheard? There is, however, one fundamental difference between the Knesset and the bedroom. In politics, a majority can win a vote even when the minority objects. In sexuality, no majority gives anyone the right to make decisions about another person's body. In sex therapy, it is essential to distinguish between two principles that do not contradict each other. Every person has the absolute right to decide whether they want sexual contact, what kind of contact they are comfortable with and when they want to stop. That remains true after decades of marriage, even if they agreed yesterday, and even if their partner feels disappointed.