A lot of people have questioned the meaning of this passage. I don't think it just means a woman will desire her husband emotionally or sexually, because God has already made them of one flesh, and told them to go forth and multiply, so they were made to need and desire one another. Also, that "desire" does not seem to carry the connotation of judgment or punishment that runs through this passage.

Being a woman, and knowing hoe so many women struggle with control, I find the New English Translation of this passage - "You will want to control your husband, but he will dominate you." - very illuminating. So many couples struggle with the wife trying to lead the husband, and the husband reaction by either becoming domineering or secretly resentful, but either way creates hostility, and falls short of the plan for marriage God give in the New Testament, submitted in love for one another like the love of Christ for the church.

This is still creating trouble between man and woman today, with women wanting to control and lead their husbands, and husbands often becoming harsh and domineering towards their wives in order to feel in control of the marriage. As Adam obeyed Eve, and in doing so disobeyed God, the real danger in this is that as the couple seek to control eachother, they will ignore the control of God over both their lives.

I wonder how different the role of women would be if the serpent had spoken to Adam, of if they had asked God for guidance first. Rather than trying to rule over eachother, husbands should submit to God, wives should submit to their husbands, and both should seek God's will and act out of sacrificial love for eachother in making decisions - this is God's plan for a happy, blessed marriage.

Genesis 3:16