Abstract
Religious guidance plays an important role in the sexual beliefs and practices of Iranians. In this qualitative study, we explore how women conceptualize the role of religious teachings in their sexual lives. Qualitative data were gathered in Shiraz and Tehran, Iran, from 31 Iranian Muslim married women. Participants were recruited for semi-structured and in-depth interviews with purposeful sampling. Conventional content analysis was used to extract meanings and perceptions. From our participants’ stated perspectives regarding the role of religious teachings in their sexual and marital lives, one main theme emerged: the regulation of sexual behaviors based on religious guidance. In addition, five subthemes were identified: (1) mutually satisfying sexual relationships, (2) patterns in sexual relationships, (3) certainty of the sexual relationship, (4) the sexual relationship as a religious duty, and (5) resort-to-religion behaviors in problematic sexual relationships. There is a variety of nuanced understanding of the ways in which women try to deal with religious teachings which affect the quality of their sexual lives. To responsibly provide women with reproductive health care, an understanding of the footprints of scenarios taken from society regarding the influence of religious views on sexuality is needed.
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Notes
Friday night (Shabe-Jumu'ah): The night in which having sex is strongly recommended in Islam, because having sex on Friday night is spiritually rewarded (Savab).
Ashura is the tenth day of Muḥarram, the first month in the Islamic calendar. For the majority of Shia Muslims, Ashura marks the climax of the Remembrance of Muharram, and commemorates the death of Husain ibn Ali, the grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, at the Battle of Karbala on Muharram 10, 61 AH (in AHt: October 10, 680 CE).
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Acknowledgments
This study was a part of a dissertation for receiving a Ph.D. degree in Reproductive Health that was financially supported by the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran. We are grateful to this institution and to all of the women who participated in the study.
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Maasoumi, R., Shivarani, M., Lamb, R. et al. Exploring the Role of Religious Teachings in Iranian Women’s Sexual Life Scenarios. Sexuality & Culture 24, 197–208 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-019-09634-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-019-09634-2