Karezza

Alice Bunker Stockham worked as a gynecologist and activist for women’s rights and family planning; in Karezza she discusses the fundamentals of a successful marriage, whereby both partners are sexually and emotionally fulfilled.For Stockham, a healthy marriage was one in which the woman enjoyed freedom to pursue her hobbies and activities; where sexual relations serve to strengthen and preserve the marital union; where a household is harmonious to the point of maximizing the offspring’s chances of a successful life. Arriving at this ideal situation, whereby several ethical tenets are attained by the couple, is not easy – the author, using her career and experiences as a grounding, offers suggestions and practical advice in support of her treatise.At the time Stockham published this text in 1903, there was little formal marriage guidance or counselling available. The notion that a married couple should consult a professional, that the union be steered back to prosperity and joy, was simply inconceivable. It is thus that Karezza, as a series of ideas and principles, was pioneering for its time. Stockham’s arguments, soundly and eloquently stated, make the case for a successful marriage, and the social, psychological and spiritual benefits which result.