Publication Date

Fall 2025

Abstract

Women’s sexual health within Tunisia exists at an intersection between progressive legal frameworks, while also reversely experiencing modesty linked to gendered expectations, as well as enduring sexuality expression as a cultural taboo. This study aims to investigate how Tunisian women across generations understand as well as navigate intimacy, healthcare access, sexual education, sexual expression, within this complex social and legal context. Using a qualitative method, this study conducted four semi-structured interviews with women aged between 18-65 living in urban areas of Tunis and La Marsa. The interviews focused on experiences of shame and openness surrounding sexual life, societal sexual pressure based on gender roles and, what sexual healthcare and access, as well as what legal protections and social change look like especially in the post revolution era. Findings reveal consistent absence of a comprehensive sexual education across generations. All articulated that sexuality and sexual expression are viewed as taboo, not to be discussed openly within families or in schools. Women relied on informal sources such as peers or the internet to learn about their sexuality and their bodies. Despite legal progression, such as Tunisia’s Organic Law 58 (2017), which made all forms of violence against women illegal, participants expressed skepticism about the enforcement of these laws. In other words, between de jure (what is established by law) and de facto (and what exists in reality), between the promulgation of a law and its enforcement, there is a huge gap, as society cannot be forcibly changed by law and ingrained attitudes die hard. Overall, this study highlights the tensions between legal progress, and social practice, underscoring the need for comprehensive cultural change, access to improved gender-sensitive healthcare, and sexual education for all. These findings contribute to the broader discussion or of sexuality, sexual expression, gender, and women’s autonomy in post-revolution Tunisia.

Disciplines

Social and Behavioral Sciences

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