In a culture that expressly values female virginity, to not be a virgin at the time of marriage is grounds for divorce, shame or even violence. This paper offers a critical review of what is known about the expression of sexuality in Morocco by bringing together several domains of research-studies of Islamic doctrine, anthropological research on sexuality, ethnographies of Muslim countries, as well as recent studies of sexual behaviors and attitudes in Morocco. The traditional context of sexual behavior in Morocco was shaped by the dynamic interplay among several forces: a relatively permissive religious tradition, a system restricting women's autonomy and privileging male satisfaction, and a keen awareness among women of the connections between sexual exchange and power relationships. This situation is rapidly changing as a result of momentous demographic and socio-economic transformations that radically altered the frequency and quality of interactions between men and women and the realities of the marriage market and contributed to the emergence of youth culture attuned to global trends but rooted in local sensitivities. The case of Morocco illustrates the ways in which the domain of sexuality is contested as a result of discrepancies between the Islamic religion and its application by its followers.
