Knowledge, Attitude, and Experience of Marriage and Sexuality among Newly-Married Women in Gujarat, India: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

This article, based on an exploratory study, assesses the sexuality, sexual, and reproductive behavior of young newly-married women and men in rural Gujarat, India. This article focuses on the women. A conceptual framework utilizing socioeconomic background, societal norms about sexuality, mass media exposure, husband-wife communication, and knowledge and attitude was developed to link to sexual behavior. The often colorful and vivid qualitative data suggest considerable premarital needs yet to be met by families or social welfare agencies. The findings confirm how poorly prepared both men and women are for dealing with sexual experience in their marriage and how this lack of preparation and understanding causes such social and behavioral problems such as physical coercion, anxiety, and unhappy marital unions.