Dominance and submission: The psychosexual exploitation of women in cults

A landmark analysis revealing how cult leaders systemically control and exploit women through sexual manipulation, reproductive control, and psychological domination.

Women in cultic and coercive groups are disproportionately subjected to sexual exploitation, reproductive control, and enforced submission — harms that are too often hidden behind spiritual language or claims of community. In the lead up to International Women’s Day (IWD) 2026, we will be sharing a series of articles grounded in peer-reviewed research and academic work published by ICSA.

This is a summary version of an academic article written by Janja Lalich, first published in the Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 14, No. 1, 1997. Read the full academic article on the ICSA Online Library, and the summary below.

At a glance

Janja Lalich argues that sexual exploitation in cults is not incidental misconduct but a structural expression of authoritarian power. Through control of sexuality, marriage, reproduction, and intimacy, leaders consolidate total domination over female members. The article details how leaders utilize “thought reform” and power imbalances to bypass consent and enforce submission, arguing that such exploitation is the ultimate form of member objectification. By exposing these hidden agendas, Lalich provides a framework for psychoeducation as a primary tool for survivor recovery.

Who this article is for This article is essential for mental health professionals, rape crisis counselors, and legal advocates working with survivors of coercive control. It also serves as a vital resource for former cult members seeking to understand the mechanics of their own exploitation.

Key points

The myth of the “unstable” recruit

Contrary to popular belief, cults do not primarily attract “crazy” or “weird” individuals, but rather intelligent and energetic people from stable backgrounds. Recruiters specifically target the “best and brightest” because they make productive members who can fundraise and manage cult-owned businesses. By playing on a person’s genuine desire for a better world or a better self, leaders use sophisticated behavior control to dismantle a member’s original identity.

“Despite the common misconception that only crazy, unstable, or weird people are in cults, research has shown that most cult members are of above-average intelligence, come from stable backgrounds, and do not have a history of psychological illness.” (Page 6)

Sexual exploitation is widespread and underexamined

Lalich opens by emphasizing the scale of the cult phenomenon and the surprising lack of serious research into sexual abuse within these groups. Despite the prevalence, public and professional discussion of life inside cults remains limited, and sexual abuse is even less studied.

At one post-cult recovery workshop, 40% of women present reported having been sexually abused in their cult (p. 7). Lalich suggests this number likely underestimates the true prevalence based on her own clinical observations. The silence surrounding sexual exploitation, she argues, is itself part of the problem.

“From these data, it becomes apparent that the sexual exploitation of women in cults of all types is widespread, and, to date, is possibly the least talked about, and certainly the least researched, aspect of cult life.” (p. 8)

Sexuality as the ultimate tool of control

Cult leaders quickly recognize that controlling the sexual and intimate lives of their followers provides a massive source of power. In Lalich’s analysis, sexual domination is not merely one abuse among many — it is the final stage of objectification within an authoritarian system.

This exploitation ranges from strict rules regarding marriage and procreation to more overt abuses like arranged marriages and forced sexual activity. By controlling the most intimate aspects of life, the leader ensures there is no private sphere beyond his reach.

“Sexual control is seen as the final step in objectification of the cult member by the authoritarian leader who is able to satisfy his needs through psychological manipulation leading to sexual exploitation.” (Page 6)

Consent collapses under power imbalance

One of Lalich’s most important contributions is her direct challenge to the notion of consent within cult environments. Because cults are structured around extreme power imbalances, genuine consent cannot exist. Members are conditioned through fear of expulsion, spiritual threats, peer pressure, and dependency on the leader for identity and belonging.

Even when sexual participation appears voluntary, it occurs within a closed authoritarian system in which refusal carries severe psychological or social consequences. The structural imbalance distorts agency itself.

“Because of the power imbalance between leader and followers, sexual contact is never truly consensual and is likely to have damaging consequences for the follower.” (p. 8)

Spiritual language is used to justify abuse

Lalich documents how leaders reframe sexual exploitation as spiritual privilege, enlightenment, or loyalty testing. Women are often told that intimacy with the leader is an “honor,” a sacred opportunity, or a path toward growth. This reframing manipulates faith and devotion to override doubt or discomfort.

Sexual acts are embedded within ritual, secrecy, or mystical rationales, further blurring moral boundaries. The abuse becomes normalized as part of the group’s higher purpose.

“The woman is told that a sexual encounter with the leader is an honor, a special gift, a way of achieving further growth.” (p. 10)

Thought reform enables sexual exploitation

Sexual exploitation does not operate in isolation; it is reinforced by systematic psychological manipulation. Lalich connects sexual abuse to classic thought-reform processes described by Lifton, Schein, and Singer. Through control of environment, confession rituals, loaded language, and authoritarian structure, leaders destabilize members’ identities before demanding compliance.

Once members accept the leader’s worldview and authority, even extreme violations can be justified internally. What might appear unthinkable outside the group becomes normalized inside it.

“Once someone has been led to accept the cult leader’s philosophy, then just about anything goes.” (p. 9)

The harm is psychological and sexual

Lalich stresses that the damage inflicted is layered. Sexual abuse is intertwined with psychological domination, producing compounded trauma. Because exploitation is integrated into the belief system, victims often struggle to recognize what occurred as abuse.

Shame, guilt, and self-blame persist long after exit. The leader’s ideology continues to shape the survivor’s internal narrative. Recovery therefore requires dismantling both the sexual trauma and the ideological manipulation that sustained it.

“The sexual exploitation is reinforced by the psychological violation; as a result, the harm to the individual is twofold.” (p. 14)

Conclusion summary

Lalich demonstrates that sexual exploitation in cults is systemic rather than exceptional. It arises from authoritarian structures that erode autonomy, distort consent, and redefine abuse as devotion. Sexual submission serves as both a tool and a symbol of total domination. Understanding this dynamic is essential for recovery, accountability, and prevention.

Why this is important

This article is foundational because it frames sexual exploitation as structurally embedded in coercive systems, not merely the misconduct of individual leaders. It also highlights a significant research gap: despite the scale of the problem, sexual abuse in cults remains underexamined. For discussions around gender-based violence and coercive control, Lalich’s work provides documented evidence of how spiritual and ideological systems can institutionalize sexual domination.

Article author

Janja Lalich, Ph.D., Professor Emerita of Sociology, is an international authority on cults and coercion. Researcher, author, and educator, she specializes in recruitment, indoctrination, and methods of influence and control. She has been studying the social psychology of controversial groups and exploitative and abusive relationships for 35 years. Dr. Lalich is the author and/or coauthor of six books, including the now classic, Take Back Your Life: Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships and Escaping Utopia: Growing Up in a Cult, Getting Out, and Starting Over.