‘Let’s talk about sex’: A post-structuralist discourse analysis into the meanings and experiences of anal sex for gay men

Abstract

Using a post-structuralist discourse analytic approach this paper investigates the lived in experiences and meanings of anal sex amongst seven gay men. Findings indicate the role of discourse in constructing gay men’s understanding of sexual experiences. These men offered varying perspectives on their expectations of anal sex within casual and committed relationships. Sex did not have fixed meanings based on heterosexual dichotomies but was socially constructed through sexual experiences providing opportunities for negotiation and unfolding of meaning. The men had complex risk management strategies in weighing up the need for protection from STIs but embracing the need for intimacy and trust. This study provides an important insight into some gay men’s sexual practices that can be incorporated into targeted health promotion campaigns.