Orr Zvika, Zalcman Beth G, Romem Anat, Pinchas-Mizrachi Ronit
Selma Jelinek School of Nursing, Jerusalem College of Technology, 11 Beit Hadfus St., 9548311, Jerusalem, Israel.
Arch Sex Behav. 2025 Jan;54(1):205-219. doi: 10.1007/s10508-024-02961-y. Epub 2024 Aug 21.
In recent years, an increasing number of ultra-Orthodox Jews have left their insular communities, choosing instead to lead a secular life. This article illuminates their perceptions and experiences related to sexuality, sexual behavior, and sexual health. Based on thematic analysis of 37 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with ultra-Orthodox disaffiliates, we found that sexual experiences have played a decisive role in the disaffiliates' lives. First, some participants shared that experiencing sexual abuse during childhood led them to disaffiliate. Second, prior to disaffiliating, participants had very little knowledge about sex, which was an unspoken issue. This resulted in misunderstandings and miscommunication related to courtship and dating after disaffiliating. Moreover, the knowledge gap of secular social norms led to disaffiliates being sexually exploited, as well as to male disaffiliates behaving inappropriately and consequently suffering from social rejection and loneliness. While some participants celebrated their new sexual freedom, others were fearful and reluctant to have sex. We suggest that in transgressing social, cultural, and identity boundaries, disaffiliates experience "cleft habitus" and are situated in a prolonged liminal position that affects their sexual behavior, intimate relations, sexual health, and body image. During the liminal period, disaffiliates typically learn threshold concepts, which are often troublesome and threatening. There is a striking need to offer disaffiliates assistance and support throughout this difficult process. This analysis can shed light on other groups of religious disaffiliates and cultural immigrants.
近年来，越来越多极端正统派犹太人离开了他们与世隔绝的社区，转而选择过世俗生活。本文阐述了他们在性、性行为和性健康方面的认知与经历。基于对37名脱离极端正统派的人士进行的深度半结构化访谈的主题分析，我们发现性经历在这些脱离者的生活中起到了决定性作用。首先，一些参与者表示童年时期遭受性虐待导致他们脱离该教派。其次，在脱离之前，参与者对性了解甚少，性是一个避而不谈的话题。这导致他们在脱离之后在求爱和约会方面产生误解和沟通不畅。此外，对世俗社会规范的知识差距导致脱离者受到性剥削，以及男性脱离者行为不当，进而遭受社会排斥和孤独。虽然一些参与者对新获得的性自由感到欣喜，但另一些人则恐惧并不愿发生性行为。我们认为，在跨越社会、文化和身份界限的过程中，脱离者经历了“分裂的惯习”，处于一种长期的阈限状态，这影响了他们的性行为、亲密关系、性健康和身体形象。在阈限期间，脱离者通常会学习阈限概念，这些概念往往麻烦且具有威胁性。在这个艰难的过程中，迫切需要为脱离者提供帮助和支持。这一分析可以为其他宗教脱离者群体和文化移民提供启示。
