TY - JOUR
T1 - Women exercising sexual agency in Indonesia
AU - Riyani, Irma
AU - Parker, Lyn
PY - 2018/7/1
Y1 - 2018/7/1
N2 - This paper examines the sexual agency exercised by married Muslim women in Bandung, Indonesia, in their marital relationships. Dominant discourses teach that women should obey their husbands, and most women believe that they should serve their husbands sexually whenever required. Sex is a taboo subject and women should not discuss sex or initiate sex. Their sexual desire is not acknowledged. However, in-depth interviews with 42 married women, and some husbands, found that a few exceptional women managed to challenge or negotiate around these dominant discourses. The paper examines their exercise of agency with regard to the initiation of sex, positions and practices that they prefer, their ability to say no to sex, ways to avoid having sex and their demand for mutual pleasure in sex.
AB - This paper examines the sexual agency exercised by married Muslim women in Bandung, Indonesia, in their marital relationships. Dominant discourses teach that women should obey their husbands, and most women believe that they should serve their husbands sexually whenever required. Sex is a taboo subject and women should not discuss sex or initiate sex. Their sexual desire is not acknowledged. However, in-depth interviews with 42 married women, and some husbands, found that a few exceptional women managed to challenge or negotiate around these dominant discourses. The paper examines their exercise of agency with regard to the initiation of sex, positions and practices that they prefer, their ability to say no to sex, ways to avoid having sex and their demand for mutual pleasure in sex.
KW - Agency
KW - Indonesia
KW - Islam
KW - Marriage
KW - Sexuality
KW - Women
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85047441431&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.wsif.2018.05.002
DO - 10.1016/j.wsif.2018.05.002
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85047441431
SN - 0277-5395
VL - 69
SP - 92
EP - 99
JO - Women's Studies International Forum
JF - Women's Studies International Forum
ER -