From Pledges to Partnership: Exploring the Lived Experiences of Women Navigating Barriers to Intimacy

This qualitative phenomenological study explores the lived experiences of married women who pledged purity before marriage, seeking to understand the barriers they encountered within their marriage. The study explores how internalized messages from purity culture have shaped participants' experiences in marriage and what challenges they faced. The main themes identified in this study include sexual intimacy challenges, communication in marriage, marital expectations versus reality, and identifying harmful beliefs and creating new positive narratives of intimacy. This study highlights the enduring problematic impact of purity culture on marital intimacy and emphasizes the importance of education, emotional support, and communication in overcoming these barriers. Findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness between cultural teachings, individual experiences, and marital dynamics. This study demonstrates the relationship complexities within Christian marriages and can provide further insight for counselors, educators, and faith leaders who support couples navigating these challenges.