Skip to main content
Log in

The Impact of Culture and Ethnicity on Sexuality and Sexual Function

  • Female Sexual Dysfunction and Disorders (L Brotto and A Bradford, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Sexual Health Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

The biopsychosocial paradigm recognizes that sexual development and sexual difficulties may have multifactorial etiologies related to physical, psychological, and social factors. While physical and psychological factors are acknowledged and identified, the influence of social factors often receive less attention in clinical settings.

Aim

This study aims to determine how social, cultural, and religious factors and media influence may influence sexual development, sexual relationships, and sexual function.

Method

Review of the most recent literature addressing social and cultural factors related to sexuality was conducted.

Conclusions

The impact of culture should be recognized and addressed and clinical recommendations are provided.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

  1. Berry MD, Berry PD. Contemporary treatment of sexual dysfunction: reexamining the biopsychosocial model. J Sex Med. 2013;10(11):2627–43.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Agocha, V. Bede, Marysol Asencio, and Carlos Ulises Decena. Sexuality and culture. 2014.

  3. Yi J. (Re) drawing the lines on marriage and sexuality. The Political Quarterly. 2013;84(4):497–505.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Jenks RJ. Swinging: a review of the literature. Arch Sex Behav. 1998;27(5):507–21.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Matsick JL et al. Love and sex: polyamorous relationships are perceived more favourably than swinging and open relationships. Psychology & Sexuality. 2014;5(4):339–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Vaillancourt KT, AL Few-Demo. Relational dynamics of swinging relationships: an exploratory study. The Family J (2014): 1066480714529742

  7. Kimberly C. Permission to cheat: ethnography of a swingers’ convention. Sexuality & Culture. 2016;20(1):56–68.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Grunt-Mejer K, Campbell C. Around consensual nonmonogamies: assessing attitudes toward nonexclusive relationships. J Sex Res. 2016;53(1):45–53.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Besharov DJ, Lopez MH. Adjusting to a world in motion: trends in global migration and migration policy. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2015.

  10. http://www.unfpa.org/migration

  11. Espín OM. “Making Love in English:” language in psychotherapy with immigrant women. Women & Therapy. 2013;36(3–4):198–218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. So H-w, Cheung FM. Review of Chinese sex attitudes & applicability of sex therapy for Chinese couples with sexual dysfunction. J Sex Res. 2005;42(2):93–101.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Ribner DS. Determinants of the intimate lives of Haredi (Ultra-Orthodox) Jewish couples. Sexual and Relationship Therapy. 2003;18(1):53–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Kellogg Spadt S, Rosenbaum TY, Dweck A, Millheiser L, Pillai-Friedman S, Krychman M. Sexual health and religion: a primer for the sexual health clinician (CME). J Sex Med. 2014;11(7):1607–18. quiz 1619. An overview of how specific religions view sexuality and its implications. Examines Catholicism, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism and Mormonism/Latter-Day Saints (LDS) Church.

  15. Rosenbaum. Applying theories of social exchange and symbolic interaction in the treatment of unconsummated marriage/relationship. Sexual and Relationship Therapy. 2009;24:1,38–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Aneja J et al. Can masturbatory guilt lead to severe psychopathology: a case series. Indian J Psychol Med. 2015;37(1):81.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Carvalheira A, Leal I. Masturbation among women: associated factors and sexual response in a Portuguese community sample. J Sex Marital Ther. 2013;39(4):347–67.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Lo SS, Kok WM. Sexual behavior and symptoms among reproductive age Chinese women in Hong Kong. J Sex Med. 2014;11(7):1749–56.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Kiran MH, Gisela Leija S, Lewis F, Sanchez B. Unveiling sexual identity in the face of marianismo. J Fem Fam Ther. 2015;27(2):72–92. This paper describes the effect cultural values have on Latina women with regards to marianismo and machismo. Includes organized system by which Latina women in the U.S. can explore their cultural narrative with a therapist.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Rashidian M, Hussain R, Minichiello V. ‘My culture haunts me no matter where I go’: Iranian-American women discussing sexual and acculturation experiences. Cult Health Sex. 2013;15(7):866–77. An interesting exploration of the acculturation process for 24 Iranian-American women. Describes the process of leaving Iran, exploring the U.S. and developing a new self-identification as acculturation takes effect.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Stevens EP. Machismo and marianismo. Society. 1973;10(6):57–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Chakraborty K. The North Indian Hijra identity: sexual and gender stratification. Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences. 2015;14(1).

  23. Khan SI, Hudson-Rodd N, Saggers S, Bhuiyan MI, Bhuiya A, Karim SA, et al. Phallus, performance and power: crisis of masculinity. Sexual and Relationship Therapy. 2008;23(1):37–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Richardson D, Wood K, Goldmeier D. ORIGINAL RESEARCH—EJACULATORY DISORDERS: a qualitative pilot study of Islamic men with lifelong premature (rapid) ejaculation. J Sex Med. 2006;3(2):337–43.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Smith BJ. Sexual desire, piety, and law in a Javanese Pesantren: interpreting varieties of secret divorce and polygamy, Anthropological Forum. Vol. 24, vol. No. 3: Routledge; 2014

  26. Fenske J. African polygamy: past and present. J Dev Econ. 2015;117:58–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Svanemyr J et al. Research priorities on ending child marriage and supporting married girls. Reprod Health. 2015;12(1):80.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  28. http://www.unicef.org/media/files/Child_Marriage_Report_7_17_LR.pdf

  29. Sah RB et al. Factors affecting early age marriage in Dhankuta Municipality, Nepal. Nepal J Med Sci. 2014;3(1):26–30.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Al-Hakami, Husain, and Kenneth McLaughlin. Debateable marriages: marriage and child marriage in Saudi Arabia. Marriage & Family Review just-accepted. 2016

  31. Maswikwa B et al. Minimum marriage age laws and the prevalence of child marriage and adolescent birth: evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa. Int Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2015;41(2):58–68.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Sternberg RJ. A triangular theory of love. Psychol Rev. 1986;93(2):119–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Ribner DS, Rosenbaum TY. Evaluation and treatment of unconsummated marriages among Orthodox Jewish couples. J Sex Marital Ther. 2005;31(4):341–53.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Marie-Hélène Colson MD, Antoine Lemaire MD, Philippe Pinton MD, Karim Hamidi MD, Patrick Klein MD. ORIGINAL RESEARCH—COUPLES’ SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION: sexual behaviors and mental perception, satisfaction and expectations of sex life in men and women in France. J Sex Med. 2006;3(1):121–31.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Bagnol B, Mariano E. Vaginal practices: eroticism and implications for women’s health and condom use in Mozambique. Cult Health Sex. 2008;10(6):573–85.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Rosenbaum TY. Applying theories of social exchange and symbolic interaction in the treatment of unconsummated marriage/relationship. Sexual and Relationship Therapy Volume. 2009;24(1):38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Milevsky A et al. A phenomenological examination of dating attitudes in ultra-Orthodox Jewish emerging adult women. Mental Health, Religion & Culture. 2011;14(4):311–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Friedman M et al. Observant married Jewish women and sexual life: an empirical study. J Sex Med. 2009;11:1606–19.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Muammar T et al. Management of vaginal penetration phobia in Arab women: a retrospective study. Ann Saudi Med. 2015;35(2):120.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Malek A, Bina M, Shafiee-Kandjani AR. A study on the sources of sexual knowledge acquisition among high school students in northwest Iran. Arch Iran Med. 2010;13(6):537.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Rothman EF et al. “Without porn… i wouldn’t know half the things i know now”: a qualitative study of pornography use among a sample of urban, low-income, Black and Hispanic youth. J Sex Res. 2015;52(7):736–46. Interviews with 23 teens Black and Hispanic teens shows to what extent sexual imagery is available and being used as a source of education.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Ybarra ML, Strasburger VC, Mitchell KJ. Sexual media exposure, sexual behavior, and sexual violence victimization in adolescence. Clin Pediatr. 2014;53(13):1239–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Damiano P, Alessandro B, Carlo F. Adolescents and web porn: a new era of sexuality. Int J Adolesc Med Health. 2015.

  44. National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. Sex and tech: results from a survey of teens and young adults. Washington, DC: National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy; 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Rollins J. Sexting cyberchildren: gender, sexuality, and childhood in social media and law. Sexuality & Culture. 2015;19(1):57–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. DSM-5 American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. Arlington: American Psychiatric Publishing; 2013.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  47. Graham CA. The DSM diagnostic criteria for female sexual arousal disorder. Arch Sex Behav. 2010;39(2):240–55.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Zargooshi J. Unconsummated marriage: clarification of aetiology; treatment with intracorporeal injection. BJU Int. 2000;86(1):75–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Aziz Yasan MD, Nurten Akdeniz MD. Treatment of lifelong vaginismus in traditional Islamic couples: a prospective study. J Sex Med. 2009;6(4):1054–61.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Hilber AM et al. Vaginal practices as women’s agency in Sub-Saharan Africa: a synthesis of meaning and motivation through meta-ethnography. Soc Sci Med. 2012;74(9):1311–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Levin RJ. Wet and dry sex—the impact of cultural influence in modifying vaginal function. Sexual and Relationship Therapy. 2005;20(4):465–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Adriane MH, Hull TH, Preston-Whyte E, Bagnol B, Smit J, Wacharasin C, et al. A cross cultural study of vaginal practices and sexuality: implications for sexual health. Soc Sci Med. 2010;3(70):392–400.

    Google Scholar 

  53. Salvatore S. Sexual function after delivery, childbirth-related pelvic floor dysfunction. Springer International Publishing; 2016. p. 101–4

  54. Ebrahimi M et al. Sexual dysfunction in breast cancer: a case-control study. Archives of Breast Cancer. 2015;2(1):15–20.

    Google Scholar 

  55. Kumar R, Phookun HR, Datta A. Epidemic of Koro in North East India: an observational cross-sectional study. Asian J Psychiatry. 2014;12:113–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  56. Adeniran RA, Jones JR. Koro: culture-bound disorder or universal symptom? Br J Psychiatry. 1994;164(4):559–61.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Mattelaer JJ, Jilek W. Koro—the psychological disappearance of the penis. J Sex Med. 2007;4(5):1509–15.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Vu M et al. Predictors of delayed healthcare seeking among American Muslim women. J Women’s Health. 2016. An important paper that brings attention to how women concerned of modesty may delay treatment.

  59. Ribner DS. Modifying sensate focus for use with Haredi (Ultra-Orthodox) Jewish couples. J Sex Marital Ther. 2003;29(2):165–71.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Moreira Jr ED, Brock G, Glasser DB, Nicolosi A, Laumann EO, Paik A, et al. Help-seeking behaviour for sexual problems: the global study of sexual attitudes and behaviors. Int J Clin Pract. 2005;59(1):6–16.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Atallah S, Johnson-Agbakwu C, Rosenbaum T, Abdo C, Byers S, Graham C, et al. Ethical and sociocultural aspects of sexual function and dysfunction in both sexes. J Sex Med. 2016;13:591–606.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Hall KSK, Graham CA. The cultural context of sexual pleasure and problems: psychotherapy with diverse clients: Routledge; 2012.

  63. López SR, Grover KP, Holland D, Johnson MJ, Kain CD, Kanel K, et al. Development of culturally sensitive psychotherapists. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice. 1989;20(6):369–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  64. David SR, Kleinplatz P. Culture diversity and sensitivity in sex therapy. In: New directions in sex therapy: innovative and alternatives. 2nd ed. New York: Routledge; 2012. p. 161–74.

    Google Scholar 

  65. Hansen ND, Randazzo KV, Schwartz A, Marshall M, Kalis D, Frazier R, et al. Do we practice what we preach? An exploratory survey of multicultural psychotherapy competencies. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice. 2006;37(1):66–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  66. Russell F. Clinical manual of cultural psychiatry. Am Psychiatr Pub. 2015. Examines cultural psychiatry in depth including interview and assessment guidance. Although this book does not focus specifically on sexuality or sexual therapy, it supplies a basis on which cultural therapy can be examined as well as helps develop an understanding of why a dysfunction may be present.

  67. Ahmed S, Amer MM. Counseling Muslims: Handbook of Mental Health Issues and Interventions. 2013. p. 346

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Talli Rosenbaum.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

JH, SA, and TR declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

Additional information

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Female Sexual Dysfunction and Disorders

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Heinemann, J., Atallah, S. & Rosenbaum, T. The Impact of Culture and Ethnicity on Sexuality and Sexual Function. Curr Sex Health Rep 8, 144–150 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-016-0088-8

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-016-0088-8

Keywords

Navigation