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).