Marital rape considered as a pervasive form of sexual violence, yet not legally addressed in Bangladesh. This paper analysis the socio-cultural construction of marital rape that involves urban women's experience in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It will explore the patriarchal norms associated with sexual practices and behaviours within marriage, which cause marital rape eventually. Moreover, this research shows that women in the urban setting have minimal decision-making power when it comes to sexual involvement in marriage and is considered to be bound to have sexual relations according to men’s wishes and choice. Furthermore, religious beliefs also significantly influence sexual appeal, pleasure, and appetite. On the other hand, the normative norms constitute a stereotype of women’s sexual behaviour, which states women should have a passive role during intimate relations to discover themselves as “loyal wives to their husband” and the appeal of having sex should come from their husband.”. Based on qualitative data, this paper analyses how women engaged in sexual activity against their will due to threats, intimidation, and psychological manipulation. Another highlight of this paper is that it investigates the psychological effects of marital rape on women. Due to socially and culturally shaped gender roles, women are not allowed to speak about the sexual preferences they can make within marriage. Women often do not talk about their experience of marital rape. They often consider talking about marital rape as taboo because, in Bangladeshi societies, sex within marriage is considered “normal”. This study shows the way men ignore women’s consent. This objective contextualizes women's psychological distress and anxiety, making them suffer in silence. Finally, this article shows how women are manipulated not to talk about the psychological trauma they face because of the pressure of social and cultural expectations.
