Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Generally, studies that have considered Latina adolescent sexuality have approached the study of Latina sexuality as a “problem,” and ignored or marginalized the sexual subjectivity of Latina youth. Moving away from this crisis framework, this paper focuses on Latina adolescent sexual agency as a way to uncover and understand the social context for their sexual and reproductive decision-making. Drawing upon ethnographic fieldwork and interviews conducted in Chicago between November 2002 and June 2004, this paper explores the safe sex discussions Mexican and Puerto Rican young women engage in with their peers. The consideration of Latina youth as sexual subjects, while providing further insight into the dynamics of race, class, and gender in their lives, also highlights how young women critically engage these social constructs.