The thing that strikes me is that it is probably the case that if Mrs. Cemar had some outspoken HD female friends it might be very helpful. I think part of the reason that women in "MOM" mode let sexuality fall to a low priority is that nobody knows whether you have a hot sex life or not. Someone who grew up in MrsCemar's situation would almost certainly be highly concerned with maintaining a certain status quo socially. My mother was definitely a dysfunctional housekeeper but she was also a highly intelligent, fairly arrogant woman who would wander into the room when my friends came over and observed the mess to my sometimes embarrassment and wave her hand and say something like "Please forgive the state of the house, I've been engaged in other matters." Therefore, I came to learn that it s*cks to live in a messy house but you shouldn't give a f*ck what other people think about what your house looks like.
"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" - Mary Oliver
