“Rape Is a Big Word to Describe It”: Reframing Marital Sexual Violence in Muslim Majority Contexts—The Case of Egypt

Based on 13 qualitative interviews with Egyptian women who experienced sexual violence by their husbands, this study examines whether “marital sexual violence” (MSV) better captures perceptions in Muslim-majority communities than terms like “marital rape” or “intimate partner sexual violence.” The analysis reveals that while many women acknowledged the violence, they refrained from labeling it as rape, reflecting ongoing debates over terminology. MSV, we argue, may offer culturally responsive framing by shifting the focus from consent (seen as a woman's duty) to harm (a man's accountability). This approach bridges gaps between everyday experiences and academic discussions, facilitating meaningful dialog across social, advocacy, and religious contexts and centering community-based and decolonial interventions.