S01E41 - Sanctified Sexism: Effects of Purity Culture Tropes on White Christian Women’s Marital and Sexual Satisfaction and Experience of Sexual Pain

The provided academic text examines how white American evangelical "purity culture" negatively impacts the marital and sexual health of Christian women. By analyzing a large survey, researchers found that internalizing sexually restrictive and coercive tropes—such as the idea that men have uncontrollable sexual needs—is strongly linked to higher rates of sexual pain disorders like vaginismus. The study highlights that while past belief in these ideologies often leads to physical trauma, current belief is frequently associated with diminished sexual and marital satisfaction. Notably, the authors argue that the deconstruction of these beliefs often occurs as a response to experiencing marital unhappiness or sexual dysfunction. Ultimately, the research suggests that structural sexism within religious literature and teachings can undermine women's sexual autonomy and long-term physical well-being. Citation: Sawatsky, Joanna, Rebecca Lindenbach, Sheila Wray Gregoire, and Keith Gregoire. 2025. “Sanctified Sexism: Effects of Purity Culture Tropes on White Christian Women’s Marital and Sexual Satisfaction and Experience of Sexual Pain.” Sociology of Religion 86(4):519–43. doi:10.1093/socrel/srae031.