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M94A2074.TXT
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1994-10-24
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Document 2074
DOCN M94A2074
TI Gay communities and 'de-isolating' careers.
DT 9412
AU Ridge DT; Minichiello V; Plummer D; Sexual Health Research Group, La
Trobe University, Melbourne,; Australia.
SO Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):387 (abstract no. PD0155). Unique
Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94370501
AB OBJECTIVE: HIV educators often consider the concept of 'gay community
attachment' to be central in promoting sexual safety among gay men.
Studies, however, have not consistently supported this link. The current
study examines the meanings of 'gay community' and personal/sexual
identities, and identifies sexual and social pathways taken by young gay
men affecting sexual safety. METHODS: 40 informants under 30 years have
been selected using the following categories: i) construction of
masculinities, ii) self-identity state, iii) implications of sex with
men on social lives, and iv) social class position. Strauss & Corbin's
theoretical sampling model for qualitative research and in-depth
interviewing are used to collect data. RESULTS: For these men,
connecting to the 'gay community' is inadequate in explaining patterns
of sexual safety. Sex with men may or may not be incorporated into
reified heterosexuality. For those men who move beyond heterosexuality,
membership in the 'gay community' may be seen as central, peripheral or
irrelevant, and/or sexuality may be incorporated into existing social
supports. For many reasons, connecting to aspects of the 'gay community'
can be problematic (eg. due to inability to adapt to new settings,
transitional identity states, constructions of masculinities, and
varying social class backgrounds). The wider social context, the various
settings in the 'gay community' (eg. commercial, organisational, private
and informal), and the many social activities result in a variety of
interconnected sexual/social pathways that we have called 'de-isolating
careers'. Here, the concept of 'career' is widened to take account of
hidden power differentials and the meshing of 'individual experience and
collective forces'. There is no straight forward connection between 'gay
community' and sexual safety, and aspects of the 'gay community' can
create a context for unsafe sex. DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION: The results
show that explaining sexual safety in terms of 'gay community'
attachment is inadequate. We need to appreciate that there are many
sexual/social pathways with varying implications for sexual safety if we
are to understand continued HIV infection in this young cohort.
DE Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*PREVENTION & CONTROL/
PSYCHOLOGY/TRANSMISSION Adult Cohort Studies
Homosexuality/*PSYCHOLOGY Human HIV Infections/*PREVENTION &
CONTROL/PSYCHOLOGY/TRANSMISSION Male Risk Factors Sex Behavior
*Social Identification *Social Isolation Social Values MEETING
ABSTRACT
SOURCE: National Library of Medicine. NOTICE: This material may be
protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).