 |
HEALTH & SEXUAL STATUS IN AN URBAN GAY ENCLAVE: An Application of the Stress Process Model
| |
| | Unformatted Document Text:
states and meanings associated with identity and self-worth. For Bart, White gay men
represent a status group of sexual actors with whom he feels stigmatized, but also a group
with whom he engages in a selective pattern of unprotected anal intercourse. That is,
Bart uses condoms for the majority of encounters, except with White men. Bart—HIV
negative—explains this behavior as a function of overwhelming desire for White men.
His case suggests that a low status partner may expand the parameters of acceptable
sexual risk in the context of sexual exchange with men from a high status group.
Interviewer: Do you think that the race or ethnicity of your partners has ever played a role in whether you talk to them about safer sex, or whether you use a condom?
Bart: Well, I guess, again, you know, I probably have that prejudice towards Black people about protection, maybe it’s not right, but I always use a condom with Black guys. With White people, um, I know that even that (HIV positive) hot guy, for example, that French guy in Montreal, I think he was just so damn hot, I just want it all, without any protection. It’s hard to say, sometimes it’s really just hard to be rational, sometimes, as I say, your little head things for you, so you can’t stop yourself…-Bart 39 yo, Asian
Similarly, Alan—nearing 60 years of age and HIV negative—describes a pattern of
unprotected anal intercourse that recalls Diaz’s (1998) and Chodorow’s (1994)
observations regarding the complex admixture of identity, desire and meaning that
attends sexual practice. Alan generally practices safer sex and is well aware of the
potential consequences of failing to do so. But when a very attractive, younger HIV
positive man asked Alan to forego condom use during anal intercourse, Alan’s
commitment to safe sex ceded to the pleasures of intimacy with a high status partner.
Alan: I wouldn’t do it if I had any open sores on my penis. And lots of lube. So I tried to minimize the risks. But taking the risk is, um, hard to talk about even. Like, why am I doing this? I’m doing all these other things for a healthy life. I’m doing this the same time! What’s that all about?...Well, it’s a real, you know, deep, deep need to share…Sex, I mean it’s like an addiction. It’s a very powerful drive...I mean it’s a very real thing.
24
|
| |
| |
|
|
states and meanings associated with identity and self-worth. For Bart, White gay men
represent a status group of sexual actors with whom he feels stigmatized, but also a group
with whom he engages in a selective pattern of unprotected anal intercourse. That is,
Bart uses condoms for the majority of encounters, except with White men. Bart—HIV
negative—explains this behavior as a function of overwhelming desire for White men.
His case suggests that a low status partner may expand the parameters of acceptable
sexual risk in the context of sexual exchange with men from a high status group.
Interviewer: Do you think that the race or ethnicity of your partners has ever played
a role in whether you talk to them about safer sex, or whether you use a condom?
Bart: Well, I guess, again, you know, I probably have that prejudice towards Black
people about protection, maybe it’s not right, but I always use a condom with Black
guys. With White people, um, I know that even that (HIV positive) hot guy, for
example, that French guy in Montreal, I think he was just so damn hot, I just want it
all, without any protection. It’s hard to say, sometimes it’s really just hard to be
rational, sometimes, as I say, your little head things for you, so you can’t stop
yourself…
-Bart 39 yo, Asian
Similarly, Alan—nearing 60 years of age and HIV negative—describes a pattern of
unprotected anal intercourse that recalls Diaz’s (1998) and Chodorow’s (1994)
observations regarding the complex admixture of identity, desire and meaning that
attends sexual practice. Alan generally practices safer sex and is well aware of the
potential consequences of failing to do so. But when a very attractive, younger HIV
positive man asked Alan to forego condom use during anal intercourse, Alan’s
commitment to safe sex ceded to the pleasures of intimacy with a high status partner.
Alan: I wouldn’t do it if I had any open sores on my penis. And lots of lube. So I
tried to minimize the risks. But taking the risk is, um, hard to talk about even. Like,
why am I doing this? I’m doing all these other things for a healthy life. I’m doing
this the same time! What’s that all about?...Well, it’s a real, you know, deep, deep
need to share…Sex, I mean it’s like an addiction. It’s a very powerful drive...I mean
it’s a very real thing.
24
|
|
 Convention | | All Academic Convention makes running your annual conference simple and cost effective. It is your online solution for abstract management, peer review, and scheduling for your annual meeting or convention. | | Submission - Custom fields, multiple submission types, tracks, audio visual, multiple upload formats, automatic conversion to pdf. | | Review - Peer Review, Bulk reviewer assignment, bulk emails, ranking, z-score statistics, and multiple worksheets! | | Reports - Many standard and custom reports generated while you wait. Print programs with participant indexes, event grids, and more! | | Scheduling - Flexible and convenient grid scheduling within rooms and buildings. Conflict checking and advanced filtering. | | Communication - Bulk email tools to help your administrators send reminders and responses. Use form letters, a message center, and much more! | | Management - Search tools, duplicate people management, editing tools, submission transfers, many tools to manage a variety of conference management headaches! | | Click here for more information. |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
