Culture, Health & Sexuality最新文献

In this paper I offer a new reading of selected testimonies from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and contribute to theories and scholarship on reproductive violence by introducing a Reproductive Death violence framework. Reproductive violence is often perpetrated by medical personnel in medical settings. Reproductive Death is a particular type of violence and death that is not necessarily gendered and is perpetrated by non-medical State actors and leads to severing or adverse reproductive outcomes. It is a violence on the body and the soul. The perpetrators of Reproductive Death do not rely on random selection, they are particular in who they choose as victims, and they are insistent and meticulous in achieving their purpose.

Research has identified various drivers that have resulted in the over-medicalisation of pregnancy monitoring and birthing practices in Taiwan. Other women's health concerns beyond reproduction, however, remain under studied. To address this gap, this study explored women's and healthcare professionals' experiences and perceptions of gynaecological care at Taiwanese healthcare facilities. Interviews were conducted with gynaecologists, obstetrics and gynaecology nurses, and women who had experienced a pelvic examination at a Taiwanese obstetrics and gynaecology department. A thematic analysis of their narratives demonstrates that pelvic examinations are underused for a variety of reasons driven by different actors, policies and conceptualisations of modern medicine and women's health, many of which reflect those that contribute to an over-medicalisation of reproduction. This over-medicalisation of reproduction, together with the under-medicalisation of gynaecological health, reveals the extent to which women's health is equated with reproduction in the Taiwanese healthcare system and wider society. This phenomenon poses risks to women's health due to both excessive intervention in reproductive processes alongside the underdiagnosis and misdiagnosis of other health concerns unrelated to reproduction.

Drawing upon 46 interviews with respondents who had medication abortions in Mississippi in 2021 or 2022, I explore retrospective perceptions of medication and procedural abortion. Respondents saw medication abortion as akin to a `natural' miscarriage, and offered greater comfort, privacy, and control over both the abortion experience and practical considerations like travel costs. When asked if they would have preferred procedural abortions, respondent accounts invoked information gleaned online and from family and friends, explicit fears of surgery and pain, and perceived risks of psychological trauma and medical complications. These factors made a hypothetical procedural abortion undesirable to the point that some respondents had opted for a contraindicated medication abortion over procedural abortion. Other respondents reported they would have forgone abortion altogether if medication abortion had not been available. I conclude by considering how my findings support and expand upon earlier studies and what misinformation about procedural abortion may mean in a post-Dobbs world.

This study explored how risk in the context of sexual health is conceptualised in research related to gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men during a period of major biomedical change, including the scale-up of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and the Undetectable = Untransmittable (U = U) campaign, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. A systematic search across Medline (OVID), CINAHL, and Scopus identified studies published and/or with data collected between 2015 and 2020, from high-income countries in the Global North. A novel saturation-based approach, adapted from qualitative research, was used to determine when no new implicit or explicit conceptualisations of risk were evident. Ten initial papers were reviewed, followed by sets of three, stopping after saturation was reached at 24 papers. The word 'risk' appeared 722 times across included studies. Hundreds of distinct implicit and explicit conceptualisations were identified and grouped according to five interconnected dimensions: health outcomes, and their focus on biomedical, behavioural, interpersonal, and individual factors. Findings highlight the pervasive yet variable use of 'risk' in the sexual health literature, which may hinder clear communication between researchers, clinicians, and service users. Study findings support calls for the use of more precise language.

Emerging in the wave of adult business expansion since 2015, women's adult companies in mainland China have sought to 'cleanse' the previously male-dominated industry and establish new norms. To do so, they have used a strategy of de-erotisation, distancing themselves from the sexually provocative marketing of sex products and sex aids. More than being guilt-free, the consumption of sex toys is associated with liberal progressiveness, promising the return of orgasmic rights to women. I argue that, by elevating sexual morality within the pleasure industry, women's adult companies have sought to educate and reshape female sexuality necessitating consumption of sex toys and sex courses/therapies. In their sex education channels, podcasting is important, and an increasing number of companies sponsor sex-positive podcasts to promote brand value. Influenced by sex-positive feminism, women's adult companies have sought to foster female agency and desire. However, operating within the capitalist system, they are not motivated to change existing power relations; rather, as I will show, reversing the rhetoric of sexual objectification to subjectification sometimes has served as a short-cut to sustain feminist progressiveness while expanding their consumer base.

This paper examines the motivations and experiences of older French-speaking men who relocate to Thailand driven by the desire for a more fulfilling and liberated lifestyle that contrasts with their experiences in their home countries. Through an analysis of video interviews with 31 expatriates available online, the study reveals a prevalent trend among these men to initially engage in short-term sexual relationships, enjoying the freedoms of Thailand's vibrant social scene. However, as they acclimate to their new environment, a significant shift towards long-term partnerships is observed, marking a transition from transient interactions to more meaningful connections. Members of this group often form relationships with Thai women typically between the ages of 25 and 45. Contrary to common stereotypes, the research reveals that men often seek long-term partnerships over casual relationships. Although they may initially engage with multiple short-term partners, over time a clear preference for stable, committed relationships emerges. It is important to distinguish these sustained partnerships from buying sex, as the women involved are better described as freelancers who provide a range of services - from caregiving to companionship - similar to a contractual marriage or being a so-called rented wife, typically for an average of 500-700 euros per month.

The objective of this study was to provide a better understanding of representations and behaviours related to sexual pleasure and orgasm among women in Dakar, Senegal, measure their frequency, and analyse some of their determinants. We used a mixed methods approach with data being collected from a qualitative sample (N = 10) and a quantitative convenience sample (N = 155). Data were analysed separately and integrated only at the interpretative stage, with equal weight being given to each type of data. As in Western societies, sexual pleasure, satisfaction and orgasm were interconnected among women in Dakar. Quantitative data revealed a pleasure gap similar to that observed in Western societies: 63% of women claimed to orgasm 'often' or 'always' during intercourse. However, closer analysis as well as the discourses elicited indicated that its magnitude could be greater in the general population. Several of the findings indicate how economic factors shape sexual well-being in Dakar, with there being a significant association between socioeconomic status and sexual satisfaction (r(153df)=0.208; p < 0.01). The role of religious prescriptions in respect of women's sexual pleasure remains complex.

This paper examines how men in Germany reflect on (their) masculinities in the context of contraception and family planning. Through twelve qualitative interviews, three of which were couple interviews, the paper identifies two core dynamics: i) a move away from hegemonic masculinities towards alternative or caring versions of manhood; and ii) a shift from critical consciousness towards more gender-equitable contraceptive decision-making. (Self-) care and different positive and negative male role models are key themes in the first dynamic. The second dynamic documents how various life events and biographical narratives are central in forming a shift to more gender-equitable contraceptive decision-making. We apply and develop Freire's critical pedagogy to discourses in sexual and reproductive health and rights to argue that a self-reflective, conscious stance on masculinities can critically support gender-equitable contraceptive decision-making processes. Freire's theories offer a useful tool for advancing theory and practice in sexual and reproductive health and rights in Germany and elsewhere, moving beyond simply engaging men and boys and instead building a culture of continuous learning, reflection and action on the question of how one want to really be as a man.

Advertisements for menstrual products and how they are perceived by viewers vary culturally. In Hungary, where menstrual education is a neglected field, the role of the media in conveying menstrual knowledge is particularly important. Comments from adult menstruating women on three different menstrual product advertising videos were analysed using thematic analysis. The first video focused on how women can get on with their everyday lives during their periods. The themes were pain and suffering, leaking and white shorts, and adjusting to menstruation. The second video conveyed an 'empathising, sensitising' type of message and used a menstrual-realistic approach. Identified themes within it were experiencing femininity, gender-roles and stereotypes, periods and childbirth, and intimate moments. The third video utilised a feminist-empowering narrative and led to the development themes of empowerment and open communication. The findings reflect the divisions that characterise women's rights issues in Hungarian society. While several menstruating adult women recognise and consciously resist menstrual shaming and tabooing, fear of violating privacy, and anxiety about openly expressing one's menstrual status remain tangible, causing taboo-busting videos to provoke resistance.

University attendance can lead to changes in sexual behaviour that place people at increased risk of negative sexual and reproductive health (SRH) experiences; however, relatively few studies have explored access to and use of SRH services by university students in Australia. A convenience sample of students (N = 4291) from five universities completed an online survey to examine barriers and facilitators to accessing SRH services. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse variations by gender, sexuality, and enrolment status. Content analyses were conducted on responses to two open-ended questions. Over half (59%, 2934) had never spoken to a health professional about SRH issues. Of the 41% (1357) who had, female, non-binary/gender diverse, and Australian-born students were significantly more likely to have done so than students identifying as male, heterosexual, or as an international student. Frequently reported barriers to use of SRH services were 'feeling embarrassed', 'being judged' and 'not knowing where to go'. LGBTQIA+ students along with international and overseas-born domestic students faced specific access barriers. Recommendations targeting student-identified barriers to access are offered, calling for universities to support student wellbeing by providing supportive, non-judgemental, and inclusive SRH promotion and health services that cater to needs of diverse student cohorts.