Before marriage, a girl has to make love to a man to hold him. After marriage, she has to hold him to make love to him.

The quote, "Before marriage, a girl has to make love to a man to hold him. After marriage, she has to hold him to make love to him," comes from Marilyn Monroe, an iconic actress, singer, and model known for her captivating presence in Hollywood films during the 1950s and early 1960s. Monroe often explored themes of love, relationships, and gender roles in her public statements and roles. In this particular quote, Monroe humorously reflects on the shifting dynamics of romantic relationships and marriage, specifically the way that attraction and intimacy can change over time.

Monroe’s statement suggests that before marriage, the traditional societal expectation was for women to be physically intimate in order to maintain a romantic connection and secure a partner. This speaks to the idea that women were often expected to use their sexuality as a tool to maintain a relationship or gain a husband, a concept that was prevalent in mid-20th century norms. The quote implies that romantic or sexual relationships before marriage were often transactional, with women needing to engage in intimacy as a way of holding onto a man.

The second part of the quote, "after marriage, she has to hold him to make love to him," points to the shift in relationship dynamics after the commitment of marriage. Monroe is subtly highlighting the way that the balance of power and intimacy can evolve within a long-term relationship. After marriage, the need to "hold him" suggests that maintaining emotional or physical connection can require more than just sexual intimacy—it may also involve creating a supportive, nurturing, and affectionate environment to keep the bond strong.

Ultimately, Monroe’s quote reflects the complexity of relationships and the societal pressures placed on women to navigate these dynamics in both romantic and marital contexts. It touches on the shifting roles women were expected to play, from using sex to attract a partner to needing to maintain the relationship with emotional labor and affection after marriage. Monroe’s words provide a humorous yet poignant commentary on the gendered expectations of her time, shedding light on how intimate relationships evolve and the societal norms that shape them.