His behavior is not acceptable, certainly, but it's comparatively normal for a culture that celebrates as strongly as ours does all the young, flirting, romancing trappings of bachelor sexuality.
To be completely realistic, he might not be flirting with women for the sake of the women; he might be flirting with women for the sake of other men (or even just for the sake of some emotional need within himself not related to anyone else). Flirting can often take on a weird sort of role as a status symbol, a kind of social accomplishment. How many times in TVs, movies, and advertisements have you seen the portrayal of the young, laughing, drinking, flirting romantic hero, the "social alpha-male?" Your husband probably wouldn't be explicit about it, most of all 'cause he might not even understand the motivation himself; but chances are good that he's just trying to feel like "that guy." It's peer pressure for the non-preteen world.
Be firm with him. You can even show him this theory of mine if you think it'd help. Make a reasonable, lengthy argument with him about why it makes you uncomfortable, and why you want him to stop. Be unusually insistent, explicit, and clear with him to show him that you are serious. And definitely be kind too. (Trust me, most of us men are socially handicapped to one degree or another; especially the laughy, flirty ones.)
If he still doesn't stop after you do something unusual, then there may be a deeper problem, one that a random online community probably has no idea how to help. Or there might not. I kind of have no idea; but hope this helps anyway!
Is it normal my husband will not stop flirting at work?
← View full post
His behavior is not acceptable, certainly, but it's comparatively normal for a culture that celebrates as strongly as ours does all the young, flirting, romancing trappings of bachelor sexuality.
To be completely realistic, he might not be flirting with women for the sake of the women; he might be flirting with women for the sake of other men (or even just for the sake of some emotional need within himself not related to anyone else). Flirting can often take on a weird sort of role as a status symbol, a kind of social accomplishment. How many times in TVs, movies, and advertisements have you seen the portrayal of the young, laughing, drinking, flirting romantic hero, the "social alpha-male?" Your husband probably wouldn't be explicit about it, most of all 'cause he might not even understand the motivation himself; but chances are good that he's just trying to feel like "that guy." It's peer pressure for the non-preteen world.
Be firm with him. You can even show him this theory of mine if you think it'd help. Make a reasonable, lengthy argument with him about why it makes you uncomfortable, and why you want him to stop. Be unusually insistent, explicit, and clear with him to show him that you are serious. And definitely be kind too. (Trust me, most of us men are socially handicapped to one degree or another; especially the laughy, flirty ones.)
If he still doesn't stop after you do something unusual, then there may be a deeper problem, one that a random online community probably has no idea how to help. Or there might not. I kind of have no idea; but hope this helps anyway!