Arts and Humanities Commons^™

'Dare To Be Different': How Religious Groups Frame And Enact Appropriate Sexuality And Gender Norms Among Young Adults, Rhys Williams, Courtney Ann Irby, R. Stephen Warner

Sociology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Purpose

The sexual lives of religious youth and young adults have been an increasing topic of interest since the rise of abstinence-only education and attendant programs in many religious institutions. But while we know a lot about individual-level rates of sexual behavior, far less is known about how religious organizations shape and mediate sexuality. We draw on data from observations with youth and young adult ministries and interviews with religious young adults and adult leaders from Muslim, Hindu, and Protestant Christian groups in order to examine how religious adults in positions of organizational authority work to manage the gender and …