The quick shift: Orthodox Jewish women’s early marital sexual experience

Abstract Orthodox Jewish women experience a major shift in permitted and expected sexual activity when they marry. For many of these women, their first experience of a sexual relationship with a male partner takes place within marriage. Moreover, members of the Orthodox Jewish community observe rituals, laws, and practices specifically related to sexual relations within marriage. This mixed methods study explored the early marital sexual experiences of self-identified married Orthodox Jewish women through an anonymous online survey and guided written narrative. Utilizing a feminist lens and building on research around sexual scripts, findings include themes of experiencing early marital sexual activity as a “quick shift” and experiencing a change in sense of self and sexual agency. Other themes include navigating changes in sense of modesty, disappointment, empowerment and entitlement; and reflections on the complexity of this transition. Findings have the potential to inform clinical practice, education, and program development to address Orthodox Jewish women’s needs, while contributing to the broader conversation regarding female sexuality, particularly within this cultural context.