Sexuality in the Marital Life of Thai Muslims in Pattani Province

Abstract

This paper has two aims: 1) to study the family model, roles and responsibilities,and sexual intercourse in the marital life of Thai Muslim families in Pattani province and 2) to provide understanding on the views, knowledge and understanding on sexuality and sexual behavior between spouses. This study employs both qualitative and quantitative research. Qualitatively, in-depth interviews, informal conversations, observation and participation in community activities was undertaken with 8 households in a Thai Muslim village in Pattani and one outside observer with significant involvement with the community. Quantitatively, this study collected data from 400 married Muslims residing in Pattani. The results reveal that religion plays an important role in Muslims’ daily life, sexuality within the family, andsexual intercourse between spouses, in underscoring equality between men and women, who are compared to parts of the same body.Although norms governing the sexual behavior of both men and women are firmly regulated by religious teachings, women often accept the role of men as leaders in religious rituals for the family, and as having authority over the body. When surveying the views, knowledge and understanding of sexuality within marriage, it was found that while more than 99 percent of the sample have knowledge and understanding about sexuality in marriage, only 13 percent acted accordingly.The study hopes that in the future the population in Pattani will adopt practices in sexual relations in accordance with relevant knowledge on the issue.