That’s Not Love but Greed!: Reflections on Love and Sex After Marriage

Chapter 3, titled ‘That’s Not Love but Greed!’, explores women’s perspectives on love and sexuality post-marriage, with a focus on the influence of Indian mega-teledramas dubbed in Sinhala. This chapter highlights the significant role these television dramas play in the lives of housewives, serving not only as entertainment but also as a source of knowledge. Furthermore, it discusses the impact of mobile phones, providing women with a platform to explore their fantasies of love within the confines of their homes. The mobile device facilitates connections with ‘mobile lovers’, despite the acknowledgement of the perceived wrongness of such engagements. These interactions serve as a form of escapism, offering pleasure that may not be fulfilled within their marriages. These relationships exemplify Giddens’s (1992) concept of confluent love, as they do not necessarily aim for marriage but continue as long as they are mutually beneficial. Moreover, this dynamic represents a form of virtual infidelity, where virtual spaces provide an alternative reality for women to pursue love outside the bounds of marriage. The chapter unravels the complexities of women’s experiences, challenging societal norms and shedding light on the intricate intersections of love, technology, and the quest for fulfilment within the institution of marriage.