Sexual interaction or a solitary action: young Swedish men’s ideal images of sexual situations in relationships and in one-night stands
Categorie(s):
Healt
Author(s):
Eva Elmerstig, BarbroWijma, Kerstin Sandell, Carina Berterö
Keyword(s):
Kesehatan, kebidanan, Jurnal Internasional, jurnal, Adolescence, Constant comparative analysis/method, Masculinity, Sexuality, Young men
DOI:
Abstract :
ABSTRACT
Objective: It seems that traditional gender norms influence young women’s and men’s sexuality differently.
However, little attention has been paid to ideal images of sexual situations. This study identifies
young heterosexual men’s ideal images of sexual situations and their expectations of themselves in sexual
situations.
Study design: The present study employs a qualitative design. Twelve Swedish men (aged 16–20) participated
in individual in-depth qualitative interviews. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and
analysed using the constant comparative method from grounded theory.
Results: Our study revealed that the young men’s conceptions of normal sexual situations were divided
into two parts: sexual situations in relationships, and sexual situations in one-night stands. Their ideal
image, “a balanced state of emotional and physical pleasure”, was influenced by the presence/absence
of intimacy, the partner’s response, and their own performance. The greatest opportunities to experience
intimacy and the partner’s response were found during sexual situations in relationships. In onenight
stands, the men wanted to make a good impression by performing well, and behaved according
to masculine stereotypes.
Conclusion: Stereotyped masculinity norms regulate young heterosexual men’s sexuality, particularly in
one-night stands. Sexual health promotion should emphasize the presence of these masculinity norms,
which probably involve costs in relation to young men’s sexual wellbeing.