Marital rape is a widespread yet under-researched form of violence, with limited understanding of how social norms and cultural expectations shape its perception (WHO, 2018; Ferro et al., 2008; Zidenberg et al., 2022). This qualitative study explores how young adults across four cultural regions—MENA, South Asia, Western Europe, and Eastern Europe—conceptualize marital rape and understand contextual factors such as jealousy and sexual deprivation. A total of 28 participants (24 female, 4 male), aged 20–29, were recruited via convenience and snowball sampling, primarily through universities and social media. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis within a social constructionist framework.
Three overarching themes were identified: (1) Gendered Power Dynamics in Marriage, (2) The Language and Narratives That Shape Marital Rape Perceptions, and (3) Resistance to Change: The Role of Education, Generational Shifts, and Structural Barriers. While patriarchal norms and institutional inertia persist, participants also described moments of resistance: younger generations challenging normative scripts, educators and media actors pushing boundaries, and state reforms (in some regions) carving new legal ground. These acts of meaning-making and social critique reflect moral resilience—an active effort to sustain alternative narratives and challenge harmful traditions, even when systemic change is slow or fragmented.
The findings underscore the uneven yet ongoing contestation of marital rape myths, showing how resilience operates both within and against cultural norms.