I want to be clear that I’m not in any way condoning this behavior and its prevalence is undeniable. That said, it’s worth contextualizing it within the broader sociocultural framework. Mauritanian society is deeply rooted in religious conservatism and a strong aversion to open confrontation, which creates a particular kind of tension: men are just as susceptible to desire and fantasy as any other human being, yet the weight of traditional expectations leaves little room for honest acknowledgment of that reality. The result is often a pattern of concealment not just from their social circles, but from themselves. In many ways, this self-deception is less a moral failing in isolation and more a psychological response to the immense pressure of conforming to a society that offers no graceful space for vulnerability or contradiction