Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Sexual identity, sexual attraction and sexual behaviour'

ABSTRACT Background: Sexual orientation is comprised of distinct components, including sexual identity, sexual attraction and sexual behavior. Lesbian, gay and bisexual adolescents are at an increased risk of experiencing poor health outcomes compared to non-sexual minority youth. Health care professional organizations recommend that health care providers discuss each component of sexual orientation at every adolescent health supervision visits in order to best assess the adolescent's health risks and needs for intervention and education. Objective: This survey assessed the frequency with which nurse practitioners (NPs) in the state of Vermont discussed sexual identity, attraction and behavior with adolescents during annual health supervision visits. Design: A cross sectional study that analyzed descriptive statistics of a small convenience sample of Vermont NPs. Setting and Participants: Attendees of the Vermont Nurse Practitioner Association 2015 annual conference. Participants in the study were licensed, practicing NPs in the state of Vermont responsible for the health supervision of adolescents. Results: Participants were overwhelmingly female (93%), with a median age between 40-49 years old, and a median length of years in practice of six to ten years. Sixty-two percent of respondents specialized in family practice. Respondents reported that they always asked adolescents about the sex of sexual partners at 49% of health supervision visits. Respondents always discussed sexual attraction and sexual identity at 31% and 24% of health supervision visits, respectively. Twenty percent of respondents reported rarely or never discussing sexual attraction, and 38% reported rarely or never discussing sexual identity. Conclusions: The Vermont NPs who participated in this survey were demographically similar to national NP cohorts. Vermont NPs discussed the adolescent's sexual behavior at health supervision visits as frequently as health care providers nationally, and Vermont NPs discussed sexual attraction and sexual identity more frequently than providers nationally. However, Vermont NPs discussed sexual attraction and identity much less frequently than they discussed sexual behavior. Results of this survey illustrate that there is substantial room for improvement regarding the frequency with which Vermont NPs discuss the three components of sexual orientation with adolescents, particularly the components of sexual identity and attraction.

Sexual orientation is a multi-dimensional construct, including sexual identity, attraction, and behavior. Adopting this multidimensional perspective, this thesis is structured in two manuscripts that investigate adolescent sexual orientation among a community sample of students from 14 high schools in Montréal, Québec. Study I examined sexual orientation and youth suicidality. Study II assessed factors related to concordance versus discordance of sexual identity, attraction and behavior. Students were surveyed anonymously. The survey included items assessing sexual orientation, health risk behaviors, suicidality, demographics, and social attitudes towards homosexuality. Multiple logistic regression models were used in both studies. Study I found that compared to youth with heterosexual identity, attraction and behavior, adolescents with GLB and “unsure” identities were at greater risk of suicidality. However, youth who reported same-sex attraction or behavior, but a heterosexual identity, were not at elevated risk. Study II found that compared with heterosexual-identified students, students with GLB identities were more likely to be older and to report that school homosexual attitudes were ridiculed, accepted, or appreciated versus tolerated or ignored. Overall, results highlighted the potential importance of social environment in sexual minority youth mental health outcomes and identity development.
L'orientation sexuelle est une construction mentale multidimensionnelle qui inclut l'identité sexuelle, l'attirance physique et le comportement sexuel. Cette thèse adopte la perspective multidimensionnelle et étudie l'orientation sexuelle chez un échantillon d'étudiants adolescents dans 14 écoles secondaires à Montréal, Québec. La thèse est divisée en deux manuscrits. La première étude examine l'orientation sexuelle et la suicidalité chez les jeunes. La deuxième étude examine les facteurs reliés à la concordance ou discordance de l'identité sexuelle, l'attirance physique et le comportement sexuel. Des étudiants étaient interrogés anonymement. Le questionnaire incluait des points qui évaluaient l'orientation sexuelle, les comportements de santé à risques, la suicidalité, les données démographiques et les attitudes sociales envers l'homosexualité. Les deux études ont utilisé des modèles de régression logistiques multiples. La première étude a trouvé que les jeunes avec une identité Gay-lesbienne-bisexuel(le)s (GLB) et « incertaines » étaient plus à risque pour la suicidalité comparer aux jeunes avec une identité, une attirance et un comportement hétérosexuel. Cependant, les jeunes qui ont mentionné avoir des attirances physiques ou des comportements sexuels avec le même sexe mais une identité hétérosexuelles n'étaient pas plus à risque. La deuxième étude a trouvé que, comparé aux étudiants avec une identité hétérosexuelle, les étudiants avec une identité GLB étaient plus vieux et plus porté à mentionné que l'attitude de leur école envers l'homosexualité était ridiculisé, accepté, ou apprécié au lieu de toléré ou ignoré. En tout, les résultats soulignent l'importance de l'environnement sociale pour la santé mentale et le développement de l'identité sexuelle chez les jeunes minorités sexuelles.

Background: Sexual behaviour among schoolchildren and adolescents is a sparsely researched area and there are delicate methodological obstacles and ethical concerns when conducting such research. Still it is a subject that engages both parents and professionals. A sexualized behaviour or an early sexual debut (younger than 14 years) can be a sign of sexual abuse. It is therefore of importance to describe what is common and what is uncommon sexual behaviour among children and what the consequences of an early or a late sexual debut may be for the individual upon reaching late adolescence. Adolescents who identify themselves as lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB) are also a group that needs further attention and research since they are often described as having a lower quality of life and more often experience child abuse than heterosexual teens. Aims: The research leading to this thesis had four goals: 1) to elucidate the sexual behaviour of children between the ages of 7 and 13 as observed by their parents, 2) to investigate the relationship between an early sexual debut (before 14 years of age) and socio-demographic data, sexual experience, health, experience of child abuse and behaviour at 18-years-of-age, 3) to explore associations with no sexual debut (no oral, vaginal or anal sex) at the age of 18, and 4) to describe the relationship between sexual identification and socio-demographic background data, sexual behaviour, health and health behaviour, experiences of child sexual and/or physical abuse and present behaviour among Swedish adolescents. Methods: The parents of 418 children answered questionnaires about their child’s behaviour, both general and sexual, and a sample of 3432 Swedish high school students completed a survey about sexuality, health and abuse at the age of 18. In addition, 362 members of the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights (RFSL) completed the same survey at a mean age of 21.4 years. Results: Most of the sexual behaviours among the schoolchildren were common, and in part related to, or varied with, age and gender. A small number of sexual behaviours often referred to as sexualised or problematic behaviours (for example, kissing adults with the tongue, imitating intercourse, masturbating in public, and touching other children’s genitals with the mouth) were found to be very unusual or not reported by any parent in this normative group of Swedish children. Among the adolescents, an early debut (younger than 14 years of age) correlated positively with number of partners, experience of oral and anal sex, smoking, drug and alcohol use and antisocial behaviour, such as being violent, lying, stealing and running away from home. Girls with an early sexual debut had significantly more experience of sexual abuse while boys with an early sexual debut were more likely to have a weak sense of coherence, low self-esteem and poor mental health, together with experience of sexual abuse, selling sex and physical abuse. A multiple logistic regression model showed that a number of antisocial acts and health behaviours remained significant, but early sexual debut did not increase the risk of psychiatric symptoms, low self-esteem or low sense of coherence at 18-years-of-age. Just under a quarter (24.6%) of the 3,380 adolescents had not had their sexual debut (no oral, anal or vaginal sex by the age of 18). There was a positive correlation between not debuting sexually at age 18 and a number of factors such as: being more likely to have caring fathers; parents born outside Europe; low sexual desire; lower pornography consumption; lower alcohol and tobacco consumption; less antisocial behavior and fewer experiences of sexual abuse than 18 year olds who had already made their sexua  debut. Adolescents with a minority sexual identity more often described their relationship with their parents as based on low care and high overprotection than did their heterosexual peers. The minority adolescents used alcohol and drugs to a significantly higher degree than the heterosexual adolescents. Multivariate analysis showed a positive correlation between a minority sexual identity and experience of anal sex, higher sexual lust, experience of sexual abuse, physical abuse and sexual exploitation. It was more than twice as common to have experience of penetrating sexual abuse and physical abuse with a sexual minority identity. Conclusions: Behaviours usually referred to as sexualised and problematic are uncommon among children at 7-13 years of age. Professionals and should give a child showing a sexualised behaviour special attention and investigate the reasons for the behaviour. Early sexual debut seems to be associated with problematic behaviours during later adolescence, indicating the fact that the early debut for some children is associated with an increased vulnerability, which has to be addressed. Family socio-demographics such as family stability and/or cultural status matter when it comes to time of sexual debut. Personality also seems to matter and further studies are needed to investigate if there is any correlation between personality traits and late sexual debut. Adolescents with no sexual debut at 18 years of age reported fewer antisocial acts, were less likely to smoke and drink alcohol, had less sexual desire and less experience of sexual abuse. Young people with a sexual minority identity (homo- and bisexual) could be seen to have a lower quality of life compared to heterosexual peers and studies need to be done to further explore possible reasons. They have a higher risk of having experience of sexual and physical abuse compared to heterosexual adolescents. Professionals need to be more aware of this group’s additional vulnerability including the increased risk of child abuse and offer different forms of support.
Barns och ungdomars sexuella beteenden är ett område som engagerar både föräldrar och professionella men det är ett förhållandevis outforskat område. Kanske mycket på grund av att det är ett tabubelagt område och att finns en hel del metodologiska hinder och etiska betänkligheter vid sådan forskning. Ett sexualiserat beteende kan vara tecken på sexuella övergrepp och det är därför viktigt att beskriva vad som är vanligt förekommande och förväntade sexuella beteenden hos barn och unga tillika vilka beteenden som är ovanliga och som kanske behöver utredas vidare. En tidig sexuell debut (debut före 14 års ålder) kan ses som ett riskbeteende i sig men även ett beteende kopplat till andra riskbeteenden som alkoholkonsumtion eller antisociala beteenden. Att vänta med den sexuella debuten beskrivs ibland som något önskvärt men det är inte särskilt väl utforskat. Därför är det viktigt att ta reda på vilka konsekvenser en tidig eller sen sexuell debut får för individen och vilka andra beteenden som är kopplade till en tidig eller sen sexuell debut. Ett annat viktigt område när det gäller ungdomar och sexualitet är sexuell identitet och dess konsekvenser. Ungdomar med en sexuell identitet som homo-, bisexuell eller transperson (HBT) beskrivs i tidigare forskning ofta uppleva en lägre livskvalitet samt oftare ha erfarenhet av barnmisshandel än jämnåriga med heterosexual identitet. Studierna i denna avhandling hade fyra huvudsyften: 1), att undersöka sexuella beteenden hos barn i åldrarna 7 till 13 år 2,) att undersöka sambanden mellan en tidig sexuell debut (yngre än 14 år) och sociodemografi, sexuella erfarenheter, hälsa, erfarenhet av barnmisshandel och beteende vid 18 års ålder 3), sen sexuell debut (ingen frivillig erfarenhet av oral-, vaginaleller analsex vid 18 års ålder) och sociodemografi, sexuella erfarenheter, hälsa, erfarenhet av barnmisshandel och beteende vid 18 års ålder samt 4), att beskriva relationen mellan sexuell identitet och sociodemografi, sexuellt beteende, hälsa, erfarenheter av barnmisshandel och nuvarande beteenden hos svenska 18-åringar. Föräldrarna till 418 barn i åldern 7 till 13 år svarade på en enkät angående deras barns generella och sexuella beteenden. För att undersöka ungdomars sexuella beteenden, debut och identitet genomfördes en undersökning bland 3432 svenska gymnasieelever i 18-års ålder. Dessutom svarade 362 medlemmar i Svenska Förbundet för homosexuellas, bisexuellas och transpersoners rättigheter (RFSL), med en medelåder på 21.4 år, på samma enkät. Det visade sig att många sexuella beteenden bland 7 till 13-åringarna var vanligt förekommande och att de varierade i frekvens med ålder och kön. Problematiska eller oroväckande sexuella beteenden (som till exempel att kyssa vuxna med tungan, imitera samlag, onanera inför andra, röra andras könsorgan med munnen och så vidare) rapporterades inte av några föräldrar eller var mycket ovanliga. En tidig sexuell debut (yngre än 14 år) korrelerade positivt med högre antal sex partner, erfarenhet av oral- och analsex, rökning, drog- och alkoholanvändning och antisocialt beteende, såsom våldsbenägenhet, att ljuga, stjäla och sova borta utan att föräldrarna vet om det. Flickor med en tidig sexuell debut hade större erfarenhet av sexuella övergrepp än flickor med senare debut. Pojkar med en tidig sexuell debut hade oftare en svag känsla av sammanhang, låg självkänsla, psykisk ohälsa, erfarenhet av sexuella övergrepp, att sälja sex eller fysisk misshandel jämfört med pojkar med en senare debut. Knappt en fjärdedel (24,6%) av de 3380 ungdomarna hade inte haft frivillig sexuell debut (oral-, anal- eller vaginalsex) vid 18 års ålder. Ungdomar med sen sexuell debut hade oftare en pappa-barn relation som byggde på en hög grad av omsorg. De hade oftare föräldrar födda utanför Europa, låg sexuell lust, låg pornografikonsumtion, låg alkohol- och tobakskonsumtion, få antisociala beteenden och mer sällan erfarenhet av sexuella övergrepp än 18-åringar som redan debuterat sexuellt. Ungdomarna med sexuell identitet som homo- eller bisexuella hade oftare en föräldra-barn relation som byggde på låg omsorg och hög kontroll än sina heterosexuella kamrater. De homo-och bisexuella ungdomarna använde också mer alkohol och droger jämfört med de heterosexuella ungdomarna. Multivariat analys visade ett positivt samband mellan homo- och bisexualitet och erfarenhet av analsex, sexuell lust, erfarenhet av sexuella övergrepp, misshandel och erfarenhet att sälja sex. Det var mer än dubbelt så vanligt att ha erfarenhet av sexuella övergrepp och fysisk misshandel hos de med en sexuell minoritets identitet. En av slutsatserna blev att översexualiserade eller problematiska sexuella beteenden är sällsynta hos barn i 7-13 års ålder. Det är viktig kunskap för professionella som arbetar med barn och som ofta får frågor kring barns olika beteenden och måste avgöra om det är förväntade och vanligt förekommande beteenden eller beteenden som ska leda till någon form av utredning, Om ett barn visar ett översexualiserat eller annorlunda sexuellt beteende ska det observeras och undersökas vidare av professionella med kunskap om barn och dess utveckling. Tidig sexuell debut verkar vara förknippad med andra problematiska beteenden under senare tonåren. Detta kan också tyda på att den tidiga debuten för vissa barn är associerat med en ökad sårbarhet, som också måste identifieras och tillgodoses av olika yrkeskategorier som arbetar med barn och ungdomar. Det finns olika anledningar till varför vissa ungdomar inte haft sexuell debut vid 18 års ålder. Faktorer som familjestabilitet och kulturell bakgrund spelade roll. Ungdomar med sen sexuell debut rapporterade färre antisociala handlingar, var mindre benägna att röka och dricka alkohol, hade mindre sexuell lust och mindre erfarenhet av sexuella övergrepp. Ytterligare studier behövs för att undersöka om det finns något samband mellan personlighetsdrag och sen sexuell debut. Ungdomar med en sexuell identitet som homo- eller bisexuell skulle kunna anses ha en lägre livskvalitet jämfört med heterosexuella kamrater men ytterligare studier måste göras för att ytterligare utforska möjliga orsaker. Det visade sig vara mycket vanligare med erfarenhet av såväl fysisk misshandel som sexuella övergrepp bland dessa ungdomar. Vuxna och framför allt professionella behöver bli mer medvetna om denna grupps sårbarhet, den ökade risken för erfarenhet av barnmisshandel och kunna erbjuda olika former av stöd.

In this thesis I propose that the representation of the prison is an untapped and valuable resource for non-traditional representations of the queered male, homo-sex and sexualities. I draw together texts on prison and sexuality from the 1800s to the 2000s in order to discuss the representation of prison in light of what it adds to a wider historical understanding of sexuality. The thesis is broadly chronological in form, analysing academic and theoretical texts in context alongside popular cultural representations. I reassess the ways in which sexuality is viewed and understood over time, and place homosexuality within the framework of wider male sexuality as represented in the prison. I theorise a re-imagining of homosexuality within normative male sexuality and I challenge the concept of ‘situational sex' through the complex issues behind understandings of sex in prison. My research methodology includes close textual analysis of representations of prison in literature, film and television alongside academic and theoretical texts on sexuality, gender and queer theory. Each chapter focuses on specific cultural texts, including Against the Law (1957), Birdman of Alcatraz (1962) Short Eyes (1977), Scum (1977, 1979) and Oz (1997-2003). By drawing the representations and the theories together I am able to provide a re-reading of the texts within a recognition of sexual fluidity and the reclassification of heterosexual males and gender hierarchies. In my research I argue that the representation of sex in prison re-writes sexuality and contributes to a reading of the queering potential of the cultural representation of prison. With this method I challenge conventional understandings of sexuality as well as perceptions of how male sexuality is viewed in popular culture. I argue that the cultural representation of the prison is a site of queer potentiality in form, idea and context and is a means to re-imagine male sexuality.

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Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)
Esse estudo abarca o período entre os anos de 1978-1981. Nesses anos no Brasil encontramos reflexos da revolução sexual, movimento que gerou profundas transformações na sexualidade e nas relações entre os gêneros, modificando os conceitos de “homem e mulher”. Dessa forma, a Revista Playboy em sua versão brasileira produziu em suas paginas discursos que teceram representações sobre a prática masculina, discursos que ressoaram diretamente no dispositivo da sexualidade. Criou uma norma, um modelo, um discurso-verdade sobre “qual” é a masculinidade perfeita. Essa dissertação visa contribuir para a escrita de uma história do homem, enquanto “ser” construído por seu meio cultural e sujeito de uma sexualidade construída e modelada.
The present study encompasses the period between the years of 1979-1981. During this time in Brazil, it was possible to verify the reflex of the Sexual Revolution, a movement that generated profound transformations in the sexuality and in the relationships between genders, modifying the concepts of “men and women”. Thus, the Brazilian issue of Playboy Magazine produced in its pages discourses that generated representations of the masculine practice, which reverberated directly in the mechanism of sexuality. Playboy Magazine established a norm, a guideline and a single truthful discourse about a particular ideal model of masculinity. This dissertation aims at contributing to the writing of a narrative of what it is to be a man, as a social construction by its social environment and subject of a constructed, modelled sexuality.

Orientador: Hélio Rebello Cardoso Júnior
Resumo: Esse estudo abarca o período entre os anos de 1978-1981. Nesses anos no Brasil encontramos reflexos da revolução sexual, movimento que gerou profundas transformações na sexualidade e nas relações entre os gêneros, modificando os conceitos de “homem e mulher”. Dessa forma, a Revista Playboy em sua versão brasileira produziu em suas paginas discursos que teceram representações sobre a prática masculina, discursos que ressoaram diretamente no dispositivo da sexualidade. Criou uma norma, um modelo, um discurso-verdade sobre “qual” é a masculinidade perfeita. Essa dissertação visa contribuir para a escrita de uma história do homem, enquanto “ser” construído por seu meio cultural e sujeito de uma sexualidade construída e modelada.
Mestre

Dissertação de Mestrado em Psicologia da Saúde
Este trabalho procura investigar o conceito de Homofobia Internalizada quer teoricamente, quer na prática, nomeadamente em relação à adopção de comportamentos para a saúde entre homens homossexuais. Pretendeu-se saber se existiam diferenças significativas na adopção desses comportamentos entre homens com maiores e menores níveis de homofobia internalizada e, se sim, de que maneira é que essas diferenças se manifestavam. Para tal, delineou-se uma investigação numa perspectiva comparativa recorrendo a um número significativo de participantes (n=304). Os questionários utilizados foram o Questionário de Avaliação da Homofobia Internalizada (também validado no presente estudo - α=0.74) e o Questionário de Comportamentos para a Saúde. Da investigação concluiu-se que existem diferenças significativas entre os dois grupos que se manifestam de maneira divergente, consoante se considerava a homofobia internalizada em função da dimensão interna da percepção do estigma (quanto maiores níveis de homofobia internalizada, maiores comportamentos para a Saúde na Dimensão - Comportamento Sexual de Risco); em função da dimensão externa da percepção do estigma (quanto maiores níveis de homofobia internalizada, menores comportamentos para a Saúde na Dimensão - Dieta e Hábitos Alimentares); ou ainda, em função da dimesão global (interna e externa) de percepção do estigma (quanto maiores níveis de homofobia internalizada, maiores comportamentos para a Saúde nas Dimensões: Dieta e Hábitos Alimentares, Problemas de Saúde e Cuidados Primários e Comportamento Sexual de Risco).

Therapist-client sexual involvement has been shown to have damaging effects on clients, therapists and the mental health professions. As sexual attraction necessarily precedes sexual involvement, the incidence, experience and management of sexual attraction to clients was investigated in a sample of 485 South African clinical psychologists (return rate 23%). Evaluation of training and attitudes to sexual involvement with current and former clients and to other forms of touch in therapy were also investigated. Survey data from 111 psychologists reveal that 63.1% (79.1% of men and 52.9% of women) have been sexually attracted to clients, at least on occasion, while 97.1% have never become sexually involved with a client. Most (61.4%) do not feel anxious, guilty or uncomfortable about the attraction, although more women (50%) than men (26.5%) do. More than half (58.2%) felt that their sexual attraction had benefited the therapy process, while 76.1% believed that it had never been harmful. Men reported significantly more frequent benefit than women. In managing their sexual attraction, 60.8% sought support from supervisors, peers and their own therapists, while 31.9% worked through the feelings on their own. Ethical practice and welfare of clients were more important reasons for refraining from acting on sexual attraction than fear of legal or professional censure. Ethics codes consulted reflect the lack of nationally endorsed guidelines. Almost half (45.7%) had received no education about therapists' sexual attraction to clients, while only 10.6% had received adequate education. Education about the ethics of therapist-client sexual involvement was rated as significantly more adequate than training about therapists' sexual attraction to clients. Most (74.2%) said that their training was useful in helping them to make informed decisions about sexual involvement with clients. The majority (92.5%) felt that education on these issues should be a required part of training for clinical psychologists. Sexual involvement with former clients was considered less unethical than with current clients (65.2% vs 98.9%). 55.9% believe that there are circumstances in which sexual involvement with former clients might not be unethical, particularly depending on time since termination. Appropriate time between termination of therapy and sexual involvement ranged from immediately (1.8%) to never (44.1 %). Certain forms of touch are considered ethical, although attitudes varied depending on context and form. A handshake was rated to be always ethical by 66.3%, while 83.2% believe kissing is never ethical. There was lack of consensus about hugging and holding hands. Implications of findings and directions for future research are discussed.
Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1999.

In South Africa, HIV and AIDS is a crisis particularly for young women between the ages of 15-24. HIV and AIDS is gendered disease and its spread is heterosexual. The effects of the disease have led to an increasing examination of what sexual and gendered identities mean for young people. Using individual and focus-group interviews, this study explores young people’s sexual cultures amidst the backdrop of HIV and AIDS. It focuses on the ways in which young Indian men and women (aged 16-17) in a low to middle income context in Chatsworth, Durban, construct heterosexual relationships. The study explores how this selected group of learners navigate themselves as sexual subjects in the context of sexual passions and sexual risk. The study focuses on relationship cultures, sexual risk and the ways in which gender is constructed in heterosexual relationships. Currently we know very little of young people’s heterosexual relationships and in particular, we know very little of young Indian sexualities. In the context of sexual risk taking and broader concerns about sexual health, young people’s perceptions about sex and sexuality are important. Insight into how the youth understand gender and sexuality is necessary for addressing educational strategies in sexuality education, Life Orientation and HIV/AIDS education in South Africa.
Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.

The aim of this study was to explore African high school boys' articulations of masculinity, the meanings they give to their sexuality and risky sexual behaviours in the age of HIV/AIDS. The study focused on finding out what explanations boys offer for engaging in risky and unsafe sexual practices. The study used qualitative research in the form of focus group discussions and individual interviews. Seven African high school boys aged 16 turning 17 were the source of data. The findings show that some boys engage in unprotected sex, while others indicated that unprotected sex is risky. This study argues that the risky sexual behaviours that boys engage in are closely related to their constructions of masculinity. It also found that the meanings boys give to their sexuality are also influenced by external factors whereby they imitate what their peers do in order to gain acknowledgement from them and the society. Alcohol is a key factor promoting unsafe sexual practices, while social networks, such as Facebook and Mixit, are used by boys to share sex videos and pictures, thus exposing them to too much sex. With regards to implications, this study shows that the notion of being a real man is something that most boys want to achieve. Being a real man is tantamount to being courageous enough to engage in risky practices.
Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

University of the Witwatersrand A dissertation submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Arts by Coursework in the Department of Social Anthropology July 5, 2016
There is a culture arising among young people in Swaziland that believes that to be young and Swazi is an ephemeral, temporary, and directionless existence, and having sex and ‘partying like a Swazi’ is desired, celebrated and the fashion. I illustrate that this construction is a reaction to the banal, routine and regulation of their social spaces. Furthermore, in addition to the spaces being limited in number, imbued within each are structures and routines that reproduce discourses that privilege performances surrounding their normative behaviour and development (including the development of their sexualities). As a result, Swazi society has excluded young people from being active agents in the very discourses that govern and inform their lives, status, agency and citizenship. Drawing from a phenomenological analysis of WhatsApp conversations combined with fieldwork in Swaziland, this dissertation explores the locality of digital space via WhatsApp in the landscape of the lives of Swazi young. The data illustrated that digital space is residual and resistive, as a reaction to the regulated and restricted spaces in their lives, in digital space young people enact performances of masculinity, secrecy and morality. As well as determined values systems and currencies around sex (and sexual status), vis a vis the exchange of social capital (nude and semi nude photos)- all of which are inherently self destructive. Lastly, in their resistance, Swazi young people are the local agents of their self-destruction
MT2017

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfillment of the requirements for Masters degree in Sociology March 2016
Following a qualitative approach and using diaries and the anthropological tool of ethnography, the study engaged black heterosexual men living with HIV to explore and describe their masculine ideals, values and behaviors in the dawn of the HIV epidemic. The findings revealed that the fabric that made “Indoda” varied and changed over time but to be Indoda , a man had to have one’s own family and consequently be the head of the family “Intloko yo Muzi”.Indoda was also detailed as someone who was “iQhawe”,a warrior who fought many battles of invulnerability and endured hardships. The findings suggested that although participants strove to attain these specifications, they were also restricted and burdened by them; especially those who were under varying degrees of pressure as a result of the different social, economic and political transitions that were taking place. HIV was seen as a threat to the constructions of hegemonic masculine ideals and thus exposed a budding crisis of masculinity that men in this context were confronted with. While HIV seemed to alter ones identity for some of the participants, other participants revealed that HIV did not change their lives in anyway. Among these participants, multiple relationships with ‘roll ons’; secrets and low condom use were rife. The other group of men who differentiated themselves from those who were HIV negative challenged the dominant notions of masculinities and reconstructed their masculinities in more positive ways. In this way, these men inhabited a subjective position of agency by taking control of their lives and accepting and driving their Z3. The study concluded that masculine norms behaviors and values are fluid and it is through continuously engaging in critical examination of the discourses that construct masculinity that new constructions of what it means to be a man can emerge.
MT 2018

This study was based on the heterosexual form of sexuality as it is the most dominant form of masculinity amongst the Congolese. The aim of this dissertation was to investigate the type of migrant Congolese heterosexual men living in Durban who mostly use sex-enhancing substances and the reasons behind the practice. It sought to explore the impact of the black African isiZulu cultural environment influence about the use of sex-enhancing substances on the DRC men heterosexual in their negotiation of masculinities within the transnational space Further, the study critically examined how migrant Congolese heterosexual men are renegotiating their masculinities in a transnational space through sex enhancing substances. The key question in this study was “How are men from the DRC using sex-enhancing substances to re-negotiate their masculinities in the transnational space”? The methodology was qualitative and in-depth interview was utilized as the method of data collection. The results of this study indicated that the migrant Congolese heterosexual men in renegotiating their masculinities within the transnational space through sex-enhancing reinforce existing hegemonic notions of masculinities and also end up creating new forms of hegemonic notions of masculinities. Keywords: Masculinities, Gender identities.
Thesis (M.A.)-Universtiy of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011.

This research project is based on the key assumption that in order to slow the rate of HIV infections amongst young men (and women) it iscrucial to direct interventions towards changing the constructions of masculinity which put adolescents at risk of HIV infection. As such, this study investigates the constructions of masculinity and masculine identity positions that are evident within the narratives of a small group of young black, white and coloured male university students. The research participants were engaged in a limited number of individual, semi-structured interviews. This report draws attention to the fmdings that have arisen from an analysis of the initial two interviews, the first of which revolved around photographs taken by the participants in order to illustrate what it means to be a young man in contemporary South Africa. An important finding is that there are numerous commonalities as well as differences in the constructions of masculinity that exist amongst these young men. A sense of uncertainty and ambivalence regarding the nature of masculinity is also common. Situated with an emphasised masculinity, various risk-taking behaviours, such as the consumption of alcohol in large quantities, visible affluence, a compulsory heterosexuality, and strength, in diverse forms, are identified as common constructions of masculinity. All of these young men define their sense of masculinity through the adoption of subject positions in relation to and in opposition to young women and other young men. The male peer group is a particularly significant site for masculine identity construction. A further key finding is that a number of these young men are able to reject one or more hegemonic norms of masculinity, yet are apparently able to maintain a sense of masculine acceptability. This finding has direct implications for the design of future research as well as of interventions around HIV/AIDS. As such, this thesis draws attention to the range of strategies utilised by these young men to maintain an adequate sense of masculinity in the face of non-conformance to particular hegemonic norms. Although these young men identify predominantly with the dominant, hegemonic norms of masculinity, there are multiple, often contradictory, subject positions that they occupy in relation to these norms and standards. As a result, this study raises questions for those involvedin similar research as well as for those designing interventions in the field of HIV/AIDS prevention.
Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2007.

Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
The Earth is experiencing a period of mass extinction due to human development and expansion (Wake & Vredenburg 2008). It has been estimated that 866 animal, plant, fungi and protist species have become extinct in recent history, and 25,821 species were declared either Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable in 2017 (IUCN 2017). Causal agents of population declines and biodiversity loss include climate change, land clearing, habitat modification and the introduction of exotic competitor or predator species (Vitousek et al. 1997) and disease (Skerratt et al. 2007) which affect species from global to local scales. The magnitude of species loss and threat of further extinctions has caused worldwide attention, instigating efforts to identify and conserve species at risk (Redford & Richter 1999). Species management programs typically aim to identify causal agents of decline, assess species requirements for survival and reproduction and understand population proce sses so that informed decisions can be made to reverse population declines. An important step in this process is gaining an understanding of the factors which affect species distribution (Guisan et al. 2013; Noss et al. 1997). Conservation programs often aim to understand an animal’s distribution by identifying what constitutes habitat. Factors commonly examined include abiotic and biotic attributes of the landscape including available shelter and food, as well as an animal’s interaction with heterospecifics (Campomizzi et al. 2008). In the instance that these factors or interactions correlate with species presence or abundance either positively or negatively, it is assumed that these factors are actively selected for or avoided (Batt 1992). However, additional behavioural factors can affect distribution, such as attraction to (Ahlering et al. 2010) or avoidance of conspecifics (same species) (Keren-Rotem et al. 2006; Stamps 1983), causing strong aggregations or segregation of animal distribution over a landscape, respectively. Despite the influence of these factors on distribution, conspecific attraction and avoidance are not commonly considered by conservation programs when attempting to understand, predict and alter species distributions (Campomizzi et al. 2008). As animals experiencing conspecific attraction or avoidance may deviate from the correlation model assumed by habitat selection, research programs aimed at assisting endangered species cannot afford to ignore conspecific interactions (Manly et al. 2009). A last resort for conservation initiatives is breeding animals in captivity, creating or restoring habitat and translocating animals back into populations that are experiencing population decline or have become locally extinct. Current research in conservation biology has focused on identifying and assessing animal behaviour which can limit the success of conservation initiatives such as; multi-spatial-level habitat selection (McGarigal et al. 2016), conspecific attraction (Campomizzi et al. 2008) and mate selection within captive breeding (Chargé et al. 2014a; Chargé et al. 2014b). As these factors influence species distribution and survival, they therefore affect the success of habitat construction programmes and the persistence of naturally occurring or translocated populations. Amphibians are a globally threatened taxon with 33 extinct species and 2,100 species declared either critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable (IUCN 2017). Factors causing amphibian decline include the human facilitated spread of chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) (Skerratt et al. 2007), global climate change, introduced species as well as habitat loss and modification (Brown et al. 2012; Stuart et al. 2004). Considerable research has been undertaken on causal agents of decline, along with understanding population processes and habitat requirements that affect the persistence of populations (Wake & Vredenburg 2008). Despite the fact that many amphibian species show signs of conspecific attraction and/or avoidance, the influence of conspecific interactions on spatial distribution and subsequent declines of amphibians is under-investigated. This current research project explores the potential for particular behaviours which may influence species distribution and the success of habitat creation and translocation programmes for the green and golden bell frog (Litoria aurea). For the first research paper, I assessed conspecific call attraction in L. aurea. Over a landscape, animal distributions can be skewed as a result of conspecific attraction and aggregation. This can hinder habitat restoration and creation programmes as species may fail to colonise available habitat, despite its suitability. It has been noted from past research that L. aurea uses particular habitat and has distributional traits which suggest the presence of conspecific attraction, and using speakers playing calls can successfully attracted L. aurea at short distances, forming new aggregations (James et al. 2015: Attachment 1). In the first research chapter, I aimed to use speaker systems playing calls to manipulate the landscape distribution of L. aurea. I placed a stand with a speaker playing call broadcast in a treatment waterbody (T), a stand with no calls broadcasted as a manipulative control (MC) and no stand or speakers as a control (C). This design was replicated in five areas on Kooragang Island, Australia, and waterbodies were surveyed to measure changes in abundance and calling over two and a half breeding seasons. We found that speaker introduction did not increase abundance or calling at T relative to MC and C. We did, however, find that the length of time males called was longer at T, compared to MC and C. As the length of calling time may be extended using conspecific call broadcast , provision of conspecific stimulation at translocation sites may improve breeding activity and retention of the population post-release by reducing dispersal. For the second research chapter, I assessed habitat selection of L. aurea. The site selection of breeding individuals is a crucial component of a species habitat selection and can help to direct conservation programmes. However, very little is known about the microhabitat selection of calling male L. aurea. This study aimed to distinguish if male aggregations are associated with specific habitat features within a waterbody and describe their use of available habitat structures. Within waterbodies we compared calling locations relative to non-calling locations for water variables (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen), microclimate (temperature, humidity, average and maximum wind speed) and habitat (percentage coverage of water, ground, emergent vegetation and floating vegetation). Overall, males were associated with lower salinity and higher dissolved oxygen, higher percentage coverage of emergent vegetation and bare ground, and low percentage coverage of open water. Males were most commonly found in the water floating between or beside emergent vegetation or perched on emergent vegetation above water level. This suggests that males may select habitat to protect themselves from predators, or for breeding; providing appropriate vegetation, dissolved oxygen and salinity for embryo and tadpole development. This provides supportive information for previous studies on habitat selection, indicating what habitat is preferred by breeding males to improve monitoring, habitat creation and rehabilitation. For the third research chapter, I assess a habitat construction programme. Habitat creation programmes are often used to compensate for the loss of habitat for endangered species, with varying results. I describe an early stage wetland construction programme implemented for L. aurea on Ash Island, NSW Australia. Seven ephemeral (flooding) and two permanent waterbodies were constructed near an existing population. The wetland was designed to increase landscape aquatic habitat, based on adaptive management learnings from past research. In this study, I assess the initial use of this habitat by L. aurea, and initial findings on the design suitability. Surveys in constructed wetlands and in the broader Kooragang area showed that L. aurea rapidly colonised and called at constructed ephemeral wetlands but not permanent wetlands. The chorus size in constructed wetlands was large in comparison to other populations in coastal NSW, and a range of other frog species also bred onsite. Female L. aurea used a nearby remnant wetland (adjacent to the constructed wetlands), and used different habitat to males. Similar habitat use variation between sexes was reflected in the broader population. Most male and female L. aurea captured on Ash Island were under 12 months of age, and body condition in the constructed wetlands was higher than in the broader population. Waterbody design successfully protected waterbodies from overland flooding, and ephemeral waterbodies dried, which suggests the drying regime may protect the constructed habitat long-term from infestation of predatory fish. Elevated salinity from ground water in permanent waterbodies (intended to ameliorate chytrid disease in the landscape) was higher than anticipated and requires further monitoring. It is hoped that this programme may help guide other conservation projects creating habitat for amphibians under threat. For the fourth research paper, I assess sexual selection in L. aurea. As a conservation strategy for L. aurea, captive breeding programmes supplement at-risk populations and translocate individuals to their former ranges. However, breeding programmes are undertaken with very little information on sexual selection and its exclusion can reduce the fitness of released animals. The aim of the fourth study was to assess whether forms of sexual selection occur for L. aurea to inform captive breeding programmes. In the wild I studied mate selection. Firstly, we aimed to assess if the size and body condition of amplexing individuals (grasping to breed), differed from other individuals in the population as an indication of female sexual selection or male-male competition. Secondly, we investigated if male and female amplexing pairs were size correlated as an indicator of size assortative mating, and thirdly we made observations on behavioural interactions in the breeding waterbody to complement the analysis. In Whangarei, New Zealand, we captured L. aurea over 4 survey nights, undertaking capture-mark-recapture and measuring morphometrics of snout vent length (SVL), right tibia length (RTL) and weight, calculated body condition. We compared the SVL, RTL and weight of breeding individuals to non-breeding individuals and found that amplexing males were larger with better body condition, however, female size did not differ. Male-female pairs were not size assortative and aggressive interactions were recorded between males. Larger male size may be an indicator of either female selectivity or larger-male mating advantage through aggressive interactions. As removal of sexual selection in captive breeding programmes can reduce fitness and place conservation initiatives at risk, I recommend incorporating sexual selection by placing multiple males of varying sizes in breeding tanks with females to facilitate female selectivity or larger-male mating advantage. Based on the results of the current studies, I have identified possible constraints on the use of conspecific attraction for this species, and also recognised its potential use in translocations programmes to improve project outcomes. As a result of microhabitat assessment, habitat creation and management programmes can use specific parameters to design, maintain and monitor habitat for calling males. Assessment of a habitat construction project designed from previous research recommendations shows initial project success and provides information to refine future habitat construction programmes. Finally, assessment of sexual selection in L. aurea provides vital information to conservation programmes breeding animals for translocation to work toward improving the fitness of released individuals. Overall, the current study provides key aspects of L. aurea’s biology and ecology that have not been clearly addressed in the literature and aims to improve conservation efforts. In light of recent extinctions and increasing pressures on wildlife, continued research on key threatening processes and behavioural ecology is crucial to help guide conservation.

ABSTRACT The researcher set out to gain an in-depth understanding of the possible influence of a reality-altering event on interaction behaviour (communication). The alteration in interaction behaviour referred to within the context of this study, is the communication phenomenon identified, explained and labelled as part of the study, which the researcher termed “re-communication”. This study partly aims at developing a re-communication conceptual framework that explains the re-communication phenomenon. In order to explain this unexplored communication phenomenon and develop a re-communication conceptual framework for it, the study focuses on how either strategic or spontaneous communication could be utilised in any reality-altering event to disclose information that would alter the co-constructed social reality between people. This information could be communicated either by the individual, who experienced a reality-altering event, or by persons or forms of communication external to the individual. Within the context of this study, the disclosure becomes the reality-altering event. Therefore, the proposed re-communication conceptual framework firstly addresses the elements that influence disclosure or non-disclosure. Secondly, it focusses on self-preservation communication strategies used to avoid disclosing or concealing the reality-altering event. Thirdly, the framework focuses on the actual reality-altering event, which, in this case, occurs when a gay individual’s sexual identity is disclosed to colleagues. Lastly, the framework looks at re-communication, which involves a perceived alteration in communication post-disclosure due to the altered reality. It is argued that the co-constructed social reality between a gay individual and a colleague is altered from a position of being unaware of the individual being gay to becoming aware. It is further argued that, because heterosexuality is regarded as the norm and the language and meaning ascribed to dominant symbols in society support heteronormativity, people often assume that a colleague is heterosexual and construct their reality based on this notion. Going into an interaction, both the gay individuals and their colleagues have their own social reality, which they have constructed through their experiences, as well as the co-constructed social reality they share with each colleague with whom they interact. This study was conducted within an interpretivist research paradigm and from the position of the theoretical foundation of symbolic interactionism, social constructionism and constructivism. A qualitative, exploratory research design was selected to collect the data by means of in-depth semi-structured interviews and narratives. Based on the insights provided by the participants, re-communication as a communication phenomenon was identified, explained and labelled and the resultant re-communication framework was developed. The re-communication conceptual framework was synergised by means of a thematic textual analysis and was guided by a number of assumptions and postulations arising from a strong theoretical foundation and a comprehensive literature review, which were supported by the findings. In this study, it was found that a reality-altering event is complex and multiple elements influence the way in which gay individuals’ sexual identity are disclosed or not disclosed within the organisational context. However, it has been discovered that communication is the vehicle for self-preservation and for disclosing information that will lead to a reality-altering event. Regardless of how small the influence or how limited the time, post the reality-altering event, the disclosure influences interaction behaviour (communication) and alters the co-constructed social reality between gay individuals and their colleagues. The colleagues go from a position of not knowing an individual was gay to knowing. It is noted that disclosure of a sexual identity and/or any other reality-altering event is not a once off reality-altering event, but rather a continuous process for gay individuals, because each time a new colleague enters the organisational contexts of gay individuals, they need to consider if – and if so, how – they want to disclose. In some cases, disclosure take places by others and the gay individual needs to decide how to deal with colleagues now knowing s/he is gay. The most significant contribution of the study is the identification, explanation and labelling of a previously unexplored communication phenomenon – that of re-communication – and the development of a re-communication conceptual framework that could contribute to the organisational reality in a two-fold manner. Firstly, such a framework will provide insights into and possible sense making of the disclosure experiences of gay individuals in the organisational context. Secondly, the outcome illustrates the importance of inclusive and positive organisational climates and/or cultures and the concomitant impact of positive engagements on organisational practices such as inclusive climates and cultures for sharing, employee loyalty, better team cooperation, trust among employees, increased employee wellbeing and more effective communication processes within organisations.
Communication Science
D. Phil. (Communication)