Family Medicine Department, School of Medical Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Department of Public Health, College of Science, Health and Engineering, Melbourne Campus, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia.
Arch Sex Behav. 2019 Apr;48(3):935-947. doi: 10.1007/s10508-018-1228-1. Epub 2018 Jul 31.
In Malaysia, female sexual dysfunction (FSD) among Malays is common, so understanding the meanings of sexuality becomes crucial, as they can vary with identity, and this may influence each woman's subsequent reaction to sexual experience. In this article, we explore the meanings of sexuality that Malay women had developed throughout their lived experience. This qualitative study, situated within a social cognitive theory and a phenomenological framework, was conducted through in-depth and photograph elicitation interviews with 26 Malay women who had self-reported experiencing FSD. The findings suggest that the meanings of sexuality for these women linked closely with fundamental factors of Malay identity, which is comprised of tradition (Adat), religion (Islam), and language, that all influence gendered roles. Malay women understood sexuality to be sexual intimacy within marriage, privileging their marital role as a "good wife" over their personal rights within a sexual relationship. This understanding of sexuality was reinforced by meanings attributed to procreation, which Malay women linked closely to the purpose of marriage and their role as a "good mother." The findings should provide useful evidence that could be used in sexual health promotions to help reduce FSD and in clinical practice to generate appropriate therapy in Malaysia and elsewhere.
在马来西亚，马来女性性功能障碍（FSD）很常见，因此了解性的含义至关重要，因为它们可能因身份而异，这可能会影响每个女性对性体验的后续反应。在本文中，我们探讨了马来女性在生活经历中形成的性含义。这项定性研究以社会认知理论和现象学框架为基础，通过对 26 名自我报告经历过女性性功能障碍的马来女性进行深入的照片启发式访谈进行。研究结果表明，这些女性的性含义与马来人身份的基本因素密切相关，这些因素包括传统（习俗）、宗教（伊斯兰教）和语言，这些因素都影响着性别角色。马来女性将性理解为婚姻中的性亲密，优先考虑她们作为“好妻子”的婚姻角色，而不是在性关系中享有的个人权利。这种对性的理解受到与生育相关的意义的强化，马来女性将生育与婚姻的目的以及作为“好母亲”的角色紧密联系在一起。这些发现应该提供有用的证据，可用于性健康促进活动，以帮助减少 FSD，并在临床实践中为马来西亚和其他地方制定适当的治疗方案。
