How do religious gender norms shape sexual roles, initiation, and responsiveness?
Gender roles are social constructs that define what is expected from men and women in terms of behavior, dressing style, appearance, job positions, etc. These expectations vary depending on culture and religion. Religious beliefs shape gender norms which have direct influence on sexuality and sexual roles. Men and women perform different duties based on their biological characteristics, but these expectations may differ according to religious teachings. In most societies, women are assigned more domestic tasks while men are responsible for financial support. This affects their sexual roles, where men initiate sex and women respond.
The Quran describes women as submissive to men who are dominant and should provide them with food, shelter, and care. Muslim women wear long robes called burqas, preventing men from seeing their bodies. This encourages modesty but also limits intimacy between spouses. The Bible says women must obey their husbands and be silent during public gatherings. They can only speak when asked by men. Women are expected to serve their families and submit to their husbands' needs.
Christian women are also supposed to submit to their husband's authority and never contradict him. Their main role is taking care of household chores and raising children, which makes it difficult to have an active sex life. Buddhist women are forbidden to show affection and touch their partners, especially in public. Hinduism teaches women to obey the caste system, which limits contact with other castes or even their own.
Untouchables cannot marry Brahmins.
Buddhism believes women are inferior and should remain quiet, obedient, and loyal. Judaism emphasizes male-female differences and assigns men as leaders and providers for their wives and children. These norms shape how people interact sexually and responsiveness. Men initiate sex based on cultural ideas about masculinity and responsibility for women's pleasure. Women may feel embarrassed or ashamed if they do not please their partner, so they try harder.