Eu tentava recusar mas ele não aceitava um não como resposta: um estudo sobre as percepções da mulher em relação ao estupro marital, na Cidade de Maputo, no ano de 2024

Abstract

This study explores how women perceive rape within marriage and analyses how cultural and religious factors influence their perceptions of marital rape, as well as their understanding of the roots of its normalisation. The research is based, on the one hand, on Alfred Schutz’s phenomenological theory, which falls within the sociology of everyday life, and on the other hand, on Pierre Bourdieu’s theory, which examines how gender relations are structured by systems of power that naturalise male superiority and female subordination. Regarding the methodological aspects, we adopted a qualitative approach, using the hypothetical-deductive method. Semi structured interviews were conducted for the collection of empirical material, and data interpretation was carried out through content analysis. The results indicated that many women do not recognise the existence of sexual violence within marriage due to the normalisation of patriarchal power dynamics, in which male control is perceived as a natural extension of marriage. Cultural and religious norms reinforce the notion that a wife must fulfil her husband’s needs, which obscures the perception that forced or coerced acts constitute violence. Although women’s testimonies reveal signs of coercion, the lack of awareness regarding women’s rights and the laws that protect them in such situations makes it difficult for them to acknowledge the severity of the issue. This implicit acceptance of coercive behaviours reflects the deep internalisation of social norms that delegitimise marital rape.