scholarly journals Strategies and scripts: an investigation of masculine identity and casual sex

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Cosma
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Activity ◽  
Casual Sex ◽  
Physical Work ◽  
Masculine Identity ◽  
Outward Appearance ◽  
Women's Bodies ◽  
Male Privilege ◽  
Structural Framework ◽  
Interpretive Repertoires

This study analyzed men’s lifestyle websites within the Pick-Up Artist (PUA) community. Employing a feminist post-structural framework, this analysis investigates how heterosexual masculinity is constructed online and aims to examine how sexual activity with multiple women is positioned as valuable to men. Four interpretive repertoires emerged: uncovering the natural —mental and physical work were required to access an authentic, natural maleness; militarization — men were rallied to defend male privilege; feminine commodities for building masculinity — women’s bodies were situated as commodities used to demonstrate achievement of masculinity; and pressured pursuit — men were urged to be the directors of sex and to overcome the obstacle of female consent. PUA authors disavowed the importance of women, though sex from women operated as a central requisite for convincingly achieving masculinity. Key tenets of neoliberalism were regularly present, where male readers were urged to decide to improve and cultivate their outward appearance, behaviours, and subjectivity.

scholarly journals Strategies and scripts: an investigation of masculine identity and casual sex

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Cosma
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Activity ◽  
Casual Sex ◽  
Physical Work ◽  
Masculine Identity ◽  
Outward Appearance ◽  
Women's Bodies ◽  
Male Privilege ◽  
Structural Framework ◽  
Interpretive Repertoires

This study analyzed men’s lifestyle websites within the Pick-Up Artist (PUA) community. Employing a feminist post-structural framework, this analysis investigates how heterosexual masculinity is constructed online and aims to examine how sexual activity with multiple women is positioned as valuable to men. Four interpretive repertoires emerged: uncovering the natural —mental and physical work were required to access an authentic, natural maleness; militarization — men were rallied to defend male privilege; feminine commodities for building masculinity — women’s bodies were situated as commodities used to demonstrate achievement of masculinity; and pressured pursuit — men were urged to be the directors of sex and to overcome the obstacle of female consent. PUA authors disavowed the importance of women, though sex from women operated as a central requisite for convincingly achieving masculinity. Key tenets of neoliberalism were regularly present, where male readers were urged to decide to improve and cultivate their outward appearance, behaviours, and subjectivity.

scholarly journals Securing sex: Embattled masculinity and the pressured pursuit of women’s bodies in men’s online sex advice

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-62
Author(s):  
Stephanie Cosma ◽  
Maria Gurevich
Keyword(s):  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Social Status ◽  
Casual Sex ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Women's Bodies ◽  
Male Privilege ◽  
Interpretive Repertoires ◽  
Feminist Poststructuralist ◽  
Fundamental Requirement

This article describes findings from a study examining men’s sex advice centered on cultivating masculinity markers by obtaining sex from multiple women. Employing a feminist poststructuralist framework, discourse analysis is used to investigate how casual sex with multiple women is positioned as a crucial requirement in accruing social status and esteem in men’s online Pick-Up Artist (PUA) advice media. Three interpretive repertoires emerged: (a) Embattled Masculinity – defensive and combative themes are invoked to defend male privilege through the concealed pursuit and sexual command of women; (b) Feminine Commodities – women’s bodies are framed as commodities to signify masculinity achievement; and (c) Pressured Pursuit and Consent as Control – men are positioned as authorities in sex, presumed to hold both the responsibility and power to overcome the obstacle of female consent. Obtaining sex from women is the primary objective of PUA advice – an accumulation resource used to bolster an “authentic” masculinity. While securing sex from women is promoted as the main goal, and a fundamental requirement for masculine subjects, references to the value of the women themselves are conspicuously absent or disclaimed.

Sexuality, philosophy of

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Soble
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Activity ◽  
Sexual Desire ◽  
Casual Sex ◽  
Sexual Pleasure ◽  
Sexual Practices ◽  
Body Parts ◽  
Physical Force ◽  
Political Issues ◽  
Kantian Deontology ◽  
Group Sex

The philosophy of sexuality, like the philosophy of science, art or law, is the study of the concepts and propositions surrounding its central protagonist, in this case ‘sex’. Its practitioners focus on conceptual, metaphysical and normative questions. Conceptual philosophy of sex analyses the notions of sexual desire, sexual activity and sexual pleasure. What makes a feeling a sexual sensation? Manipulation of and feelings in the genitals are not necessary, since other body parts yield sexual pleasure. What makes an act sexual? A touch on the arm might be a friendly pat, an assault, or sex; physical properties alone do not distinguish them. What is the conceptual link between sexual pleasure and sexual activity? Neither the intention to produce sexual pleasure nor the actual experience of pleasure seems necessary for an act to be sexual. Other conceptual questions have to do not with what makes an act sexual, but with what makes it the type of sexual act it is. How should ‘rape’ be defined? What the conceptual differences are, if any, between obtaining sex through physical force and obtaining it by offering money is an interesting and important issue. Metaphysical philosophy of sex discusses ontological and epistemological matters: the place of sexuality in human nature; the relationships among sexuality, emotion and cognition; the meaning of sexuality for the person, the species, the cosmos. What is sex all about, anyway? That sexual desire is a hormone-driven instinct implanted by a god or nature acting in the service of the species, and that it has a profound spiritual dimension, are two – not necessarily incompatible – views. Perhaps the significance of sexuality is little different from that of eating, breathing and defecating; maybe, or in addition, sexuality is partially constitutive of moral personality. Normative philosophy of sex explores the perennial questions of sexual ethics. In what circumstances is it morally permissible to engage in sexual activity or experience sexual pleasure? With whom? For what purpose? With which body parts? For how long? The historically central answers come from Thomist natural law, Kantian deontology, and utilitarianism. Normative philosophy of sex also addresses legal, social and political issues. Should society steer people in the direction of heterosexuality, marriage, family? May the law regulate sexual conduct by prohibiting prostitution or homosexuality? Normative philosophy of sex includes nonethical value questions as well. What is good sex? What is its contribution to the good life? The breadth of the philosophy of sex is shown by the variety of topics it investigates: abortion, contraception, acquaintance rape, pornography, sexual harassment, and objectification, to name a few. The philosophy of sex begins with a picture of a privileged pattern of relationship, in which two adult heterosexuals love each other, are faithful to each other within a formal marriage, and look forward to procreation and family. Philosophy of sex, as the Socratic scrutiny of our sexual practices, beliefs and concepts, challenges this privileged pattern by exploring the virtues, and not only the vices, of adultery, prostitution, homosexuality, group sex, bestiality, masturbation, sadomasochism, incest, paedophilia and casual sex with anonymous strangers. Doing so provides the same illumination about sex that is provided when the philosophies of science, art and law probe the privileged pictures of their own domains.

Intimacy Through Casual Sex: Relational Context of Sexual Activity and Affectionate Behaviours

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin R. Garcia ◽  
Amanda N. Gesselman ◽  
Sean G. Massey ◽  
Susan M. Seibold-Simpson ◽  
Ann M. Merriwether
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Sexual Activity ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Casual Sex ◽  
Sexual Relationship ◽  
Relational Context ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Relationship Context ◽  
Sexual Encounters

AbstractLittle is known about the role of affectionate behaviours — factors traditionally understood within the context of romantic relationships — in uncommitted ‘casual sex’ encounters. In a sample of U.S. undergraduate emerging adults aged 18–25 years (N= 639) we conducted a preliminary internet-based questionnaire investigation into the role of affectionate behaviours — operationalised here as cuddling, spending the night and cuddling, foreplay, and eye gazing — across two sexual relationship contexts: (committed) traditional romantic relationships and (uncommitted) casual sex encounters. While affectionate behaviours were desired more often in romantic relationships than in casual sexual encounters, many respondents (both men and women) engaged in these affectionate behaviours during casual sexual encounters as well. This was especially pronounced in those who expressed a preference for casual sex encounters over romantic relationships: in a casual sex context these participants were about 1.5 times as likely to cuddle, 1.5 times as likely to spend the night and cuddle, and nearly 5 times as likely to engage in foreplay with a partner. The current study emphasises the importance of considering relationship context in sexuality and relationship research, and the need for further theoretical and empirical research on dimensions of intimacy, including affection, in people's diverse romantic and sexual lives.

scholarly journals Prejudice towards sex workers depends on the sexual activity and autonomy of their work, hobbies and daily activities

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dax Joseph Kellie ◽  
Khandis Blake ◽  
Robert Brooks
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Activity ◽  
Sex Work ◽  
Sex Workers ◽  
Female Sex Workers ◽  
Casual Sex ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Female Sex ◽  
Part Time ◽  
Work Drive ◽  
Full Time Employment

Women are more likely than men to be sexualized, objectified, and dehumanized. Female sex workers experience stigma and violence associated with these judgements at far higher rates than other women. Here, we use a pre-registered experimental design to consider which aspects of sex work – the level of sexual activity, earned income, or perceived autonomy of the work – drive dehumanization. A first group of participants (N = 217) rated 80 vignettes of women varying by full-time employment, hobbies and interests on humanness. These ratings were subtracted from the ratings of a second group of participants (N = 774) who rated these same vignettes which additionally described a part-time job, hobby or activity that varied in sexual activity, income earned and autonomy over one’s actions. We find that women and especially men dehumanize women they believe are engaging in penetrative sex. We also find that women’s autonomy of, but not their income from, their sexual activity increases dehumanization. Our findings suggest that opposition to women’s ability to pursue casual sex and generalizations about the exploitative conditions of sex work may drive the harshest negative prejudice towards female sex workers and, by similar mechanisms, women’s sexuality in general.

scholarly journals Analysis of High-Risk Sexual Behavior among Polish University Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 3737
Author(s):  
Iga Stokłosa ◽  
Maciej Stokłosa ◽  
Mateusz Porwolik ◽  
Maciej Bugajski ◽  
Gniewko Więckiewicz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Behavior ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Sexual Activity ◽  
Risky Sexual Behavior ◽  
Unplanned Pregnancy ◽  
Casual Sex ◽  
Sexual Education ◽  
High Risk Sexual Behavior ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Risk Sexual Behavior

High-risk sexual behavior consists of activities and habits that put a person at increased risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or unplanned pregnancy. Poland is currently experiencing a problem with increased STI rates, largely due to poor sexual education. Our exploratory study aims to evaluate the sexual behavior of students attending universities across Poland. The study covered 7678 students from 50 different faculties and universities across the country. The authors created an original questionnaire which consists of 31 questions which, among others, included demographic factors, sexual initiation, high-risk sexual behavior, STI’s and religious beliefs. 78% of students have participated in sexual activity, among them 19% of students had ‘casual sex’ consisting of intercourse without the use of a condom, 27% had participated in sexual intercourse after the consumption of alcohol. Our study found that students who are influenced by religious belief tend to engage in sexual activity into their later years. The groups most exposed to the consequences of risky sexual behavior are mostly homosexual men, bisexual women, art students, and military students. Alcohol consumption is a strong factor contributing to risky sexual behavior. Sexual education in Poland should be improved.

The Hookup Culture

2020 ◽  
pp. 122-150
Author(s):  
Elaine Hatfield ◽  
Richard L. Rapson ◽  
Jeanette Purvis
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Sexual Activity ◽  
Casual Sex ◽  
Sexual Fantasies ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Great Debate ◽  
Hookup Culture ◽  
And Gender ◽  
People’S Attitudes ◽  
The Impact

This chapter reviews current theorizing regarding the impact of cultural, social, and gender factors on young people’s attitudes toward casual sex, one-night stands, hookups, and the like. The chapter also looks at the impact of these variables on the frequency of young people’s sexual fantasies and their desire and willingness to engage in casual sexual activity. Currently, cultural psychologists, feminists, and evolutionary psychologists are engaged in a great debate as to why men and women differ in their enthusiasm for casual sex. Is it because men are more sexual beings, or is it because women who engage in casual sex face more stigma and dangers? As the sexes become more equal in opportunities, will existing gender differences disappear?

scholarly journals “Deluded and Ruined”: Diana Bastian—Enslaved African Canadian Teenager and White Male Privilege

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Afua Cooper
Keyword(s):  
Black Women ◽  
White Male ◽  
White Men ◽  
Women's Bodies ◽  
Male Privilege ◽  
Cape Breton ◽  
Black Teenager ◽  
Women's Lives ◽  
Catastrophic Impact ◽  
African Canadian

This essay explores the vulnerability of enslaved African Canadian Black women by examining the death of Diana Bastian, an enslaved Black teenager who in 1792 was raped by George More,a member of the Governing Council of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Though Bastian begged for assistance during the resultant pregnancy, More denied her such aid and cast her aside. Bastian further appealed to More’s brother, a local magistrate, who also denied Bastian any help, and Bastian died giving birth to the twins More sired. Bastian’s owner, Abraham Cuyler, appeared to have been absent from the province at the time of Bastian’s rape, pregnancy, and labour. Bastian’s brief and tragic history is told in her death certificate recorded at the St. George’s Anglican Church, Sydney. This very succinct document brings to light the story of racial and sexual abuse on the Canadian frontier, and helps us to understand the marginal status of Black women’s lives in colonial Canada. I suggest in this essay that when we place enslaved Black women at the centre of Canada’s historical and colonial past, we come to a new understanding of the power and privilege White men possessed, and the catastrophic impact it had on Black women’s bodies.

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