Family and the Sexual Identity Development of Youth: A Comparative Sociological Study of the Semi-urban and Rural Youth in Ratnapura District of Sri Lanka

Abstract

The study captures the impact of structured relationships within the family on sexual identity development of youth. Research problem stems from the quarry whether the semi-urban and rural families exposed to the social dynamics of globalization, differ in their role constructing the sexual identities of youth. Parent-youth communication, social class and style of parenting, family role in the resolution of sexual identity crisis, and inter sibling relations are considered pertaining to the sexual identity development. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were adopted. Multi staged simple random sampling technique is employed representing semi-urban and rural youth (n=225) in the postal survey. Informal interviews and ten in-depth case studies of youth with unresolved sexual identities were carried out. The study substantiates that although, semi-urban and rural families do not drastically contrast with each other, and they constitute two different contexts of sexual identity development. Although, social class is not correlated, gender role socialization, style of parenting cause the semi-urban and rural difference pertaining to family role in sexual identity development. Qualitative analysis revealed the precursors of negative sexual identity development within the family. Sri Lankan families leave little margin and are emotionally less supportive in case of negative sexual identities.