It's hard to disentangle subconscious and conscious goals, but the goal of proscriptions against adultery and other reproductive mores usually have a foundation

It's hard to disentangle subconscious and conscious goals, but the goal of proscriptions against adultery and other reproductive mores usually have a foundation in primogeniture - the practice of passing land and property on to the eldest son. Robin Hanson has his "Farmer v. Forager" framework to classify many things about which people disagree with respect to social ... policy. I don't think anyone who isn't a bit ... off can openly promote subjugating women for its own sake; so it's a better story at least if there's a more rational explanation.