When patriarchy intertwines with religious doctrine, it suggests gender hierarchies and sexual control are divinely sanctioned. High-control groups can use this idea to set narrow limits on how their members express themselves based on gender. Religious patriarchy is also used to dictate how men and women are expected to operate in the group and in their own family system. Women and children are expected to submit to the men they've been told have God-given authority.
In some groups, these expectations extend beyond gender roles to include rigid rules regarding sex and sexuality. This form of religious patriarchy, known as purity culture, judges sexual desire and often forbids masturbation, pornography use, and any sexual activity outside of monogamous heterosexual marriage. There's often immense pressure placed on female modesty, obligatory marital sex, and avoiding any perception of sexual immorality.
Framing these rules as spiritual mandates instills deep shame in survivors. Research on adults raised in purity culture shows a very high incidence of sex-related anxiety, guilt, and sexual dysfunction. Survivors may view themselves as deviant to disgusting despite their sexual activity falling well within the norm for a healthy adult. Women in particular are very likely to experience pain and dissociation during sex if they were taught that sex with their husband is a marital obligation.
This inventory is a list of common religious patriarchy messages. Even if someone doesn't feel harmed by every one of these teachings, when many of these themes are present in a group, there's a very high risk that at least some of the group members will experience suppression and abuse.
Instructions: Check the statements below that reflect things you were taught by your religious group.
