{"title":"Childfree activism and reproductive norms in the 21st century.","authors":"Alexei Anisin","doi":"10.1080/13691058.2025.2512855","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2025.2512855","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Previous scholarship has analysed decisions to remain childfree in terms of individual agency. This study reorients attention towards the collective dimensions of childfree-based advocacy by analysing the actions of groups that directly or indirectly advocate for childfree-based decision making. Qualitative thematic analysis was carried out on eight case study groups. Each case captures an advocacy group which is treated as an organisational unit of analysis, and whose public-facing content, manifestos and digital communications are comparatively analysed. By analysing organisations rather than individual testimonies, this study seeks to capture the collective dimensions of activism. Findings point to different discourses and trajectories through which groups have challenged traditional reproductive norms. These include climate change concerns and digital identity-centred activism. Each trajectory has offered a distinctive framing of the issues and has articulated being childfree as a legitimate and empowering lifestyle choice. Advocacy groups and online communities have influenced public perceptions of reproductive autonomy by challenging societal narratives that equate parenthood with personal fulfilment and social legitimacy. Conceptually, the analysis presents an empirical foundation for understanding how childfree-based decision making is constructed and mobilised both offline through traditional activism, and online through networking across digital spaces.</p>","PeriodicalId":10799,"journal":{"name":"Culture, Health & Sexuality","volume":" ","pages":"1-15"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144257516","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cognitive and cultural attitudes to sex educational content on social media in Bangladesh.","authors":"Mahedi Hasan, Sheikh Salman, Md Sabbir Hossain, Md Abu Bakkar Siddik","doi":"10.1080/13691058.2025.2513642","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2025.2513642","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study investigated the attitudes of Bangladeshi social media users towards sex education by analysing user responses to posts on the Deutsche Welle (DW) Bangla Facebook page. Drawing from eight posts covering topics such as hymen surgery, menstruation and surrogacy, a total of 1,404 text-based comments were analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis. We identified seven principal themes: faith-driven resistance, moral panic, cultural resistance, sexual harassment, misogyny, conditional social support and breaking social taboos. While many users engaged positively with the social media content and expressed the desire for accurate information, others responded with resistance grounded in religious beliefs, cultural values and gender-based hostility, revealing significant barriers to inclusive public discourse. Guided by Dual-Process Theory, we found that user reactions were predominantly shaped by fast, intuitive (Type 1) processing rather than slow, reflective (Type 2) reasoning. These findings highlight how socio-cultural and cognitive factors intersect in shaping online engagement with sexual and reproductive health content and offer important insights for developing culturally responsive communication strategies in contexts like Bangladesh.</p>","PeriodicalId":10799,"journal":{"name":"Culture, Health & Sexuality","volume":" ","pages":"1-17"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144246876","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Australian Muslim youth voices about religion and relationships and sexuality education.","authors":"Fida Sanjakdar","doi":"10.1080/13691058.2025.2512854","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2025.2512854","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>International recognition of Western-perceived urgencies to widen discourse of Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) to include more 'Western' and/or 'progressive/secular' topics has repositioned religion as a focal point in debates against Western exceptionalism. For example, protests by Muslim parents against RSE in schools demonstrate not only the continued relevance of Islamic beliefs and values in modern-day society but, more profoundly, religion as a form of contemporary modernism. However, the perspectives of young Muslims on RSE are less known about. This paper explores the views of Australian Muslim youth on religion and RSE. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with ten Muslim students between the ages of 16 and 20. Findings suggest that for many young Muslims, Islam plays a crucial role in shaping their understandings of inclusive RSE, influencing their feelings, attitudes and behaviours. The findings suggest that both acceptance of, and resistance to, particular topics within RSE are religiously motivated. Ways to improve RSE so as to promote more pluralistic viewpoints leaned on religious teachings of tolerance and respect. For many young Muslims, religious perspectives on RSE provide ethical, ontological and epistemological security, paving the way for new ways of understanding sex, sexuality, and different sexual identities.</p>","PeriodicalId":10799,"journal":{"name":"Culture, Health & Sexuality","volume":" ","pages":"1-14"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144246875","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Azukaego Nwando Nnaji, Karen Schelleman-Offermans, Daniel Ndubuisi Nnaji, Robert A C Ruiter
{"title":"Preventing unwanted pregnancy among internally displaced adolescents (15-19 years) in Nigeria.","authors":"Azukaego Nwando Nnaji, Karen Schelleman-Offermans, Daniel Ndubuisi Nnaji, Robert A C Ruiter","doi":"10.1080/13691058.2025.2507364","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2025.2507364","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Unwanted pregnancy, especially among adolescents, poses a global health burden and particularly affects marginalised communities owing to poverty and limited opportunities. Internally displaced adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa face a heightened risk for poor sexual and reproductive health. Insights into their beliefs about contraceptive use and the barriers they encounter are limited. This study aimed to investigate the underlying beliefs towards contraceptive use and the challenges faced among internally displaced adolescents aged 15-19 years in Nigeria. I employed a cross-sectional qualitative design, including 27 in-depth interviews and 17 focus-group discussions conducted with internally displaced adolescent boys and girls (<i>N</i> = 126) across nine internally displaced persons camps. Results identified negative injunctive normative beliefs regarding premarital sex and contraceptive use, and misconceptions about modern contraceptive methods (behavioural beliefs) as important factors hindering the uptake and use of modern contraception. Key barriers identified at the community level were experienced stigma and discrimination among adolescents trying to access modern contraception and general financial incapability. Reducing stigma and overt discrimination surrounding premarital sex and the use of contraceptives for adolescents and young people is necessary to increase the uptake of modern contraceptives by adolescents living in internally displaced persons camps.</p>","PeriodicalId":10799,"journal":{"name":"Culture, Health & Sexuality","volume":" ","pages":"1-17"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144224637","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Breaking the silence: women's resistance to menstrual shame on the <i>Xiaohongshu</i> social media platform.","authors":"Linlin Liang, Hongli Wang","doi":"10.1080/13691058.2025.2511059","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2025.2511059","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Resisting menstrual shame is both an act of personal liberation and a critical step towards gender equality. While feminist discourse on social media is growing, systematic research on the use of multimodal discursive resources to challenge menstrual stigma remains limited. This study employed multimodal critical discourse analysis to examine how menstrual shame is resisted on Xiaohongshu, a female-dominated social media platform in China. By analysing both textual and visual semiotic resources, the research identified three key themes: (1) unveiling the cultural and social manifestations of menstrual shame; (2) advocating for menstrual normalisation and educational outreach; and (3) reconstructing female power and identity. Within these themes, Xiaohongshu users utilise legitimation strategies including authorisation, moral evaluation, rationalisation, and mythopoesis to expose gender-based inequalities, challenge societal norms, advocate for menstrual normalisation, and contribute to the empowerment and reimagining of female identities. Study findings deepen our understanding of how social media platforms facilitate resistance to menstrual shame and offer valuable theoretical and practical insights for advancing gender equality and fostering social change.</p>","PeriodicalId":10799,"journal":{"name":"Culture, Health & Sexuality","volume":" ","pages":"1-18"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144224636","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Calvin C Fernandez, Nina Gao, Michael J Wilson, Trevor Goodyear, Zac E Seidler, Paul Sharp, Simon M Rice, Andrea Krusi, Mark Gilbert, John L Oliffe
{"title":"Sexual minority men's experiences of, and strategies for emotional intimacy in intimate partner relationships.","authors":"Calvin C Fernandez, Nina Gao, Michael J Wilson, Trevor Goodyear, Zac E Seidler, Paul Sharp, Simon M Rice, Andrea Krusi, Mark Gilbert, John L Oliffe","doi":"10.1080/13691058.2024.2399288","DOIUrl":"10.1080/13691058.2024.2399288","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Emotional intimacy is key to intimate partner relationship quality and satisfaction. For sexual minority men, queer and feminist theorists consistently link emotional intimacy to diverse sexual practices and partnership dynamics formulated within the relationship. This Photovoice study adds to those insights by drawing on individual photovoice interviews with 16 sexual minority men to describe participant's experiences of, and strategies for emotional intimacy in their intimate relationships. Analysis revealed three distinct yet entwined themes: (i) embracing vulnerabilities to drive self-acceptance; (ii) building relationality with partners; and (iii) securing connections with family, friends and community. By embracing vulnerabilities to drive self-acceptance, participants spoke to embodied courage and autonomy as key components for addressing wide-ranging emotional intimacy challenges in their relationships. In theme two, building relationality with partners, participants described how empathy, trust and reciprocity underpinned collaborative work to foster emotional intimacy. Lastly, in securing connections with family, friends and community, acceptance and inclusion were key to participants' sense of belonging and legitimacy which aided their emotional intimacy with partners. The findings provide guidance for tailored programmatic efforts to assist sexual minority men build intimate relationships.</p>","PeriodicalId":10799,"journal":{"name":"Culture, Health & Sexuality","volume":" ","pages":"733-750"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12279054/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142281658","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Managing the business of sex: swinger club managers and sexual health promotion.","authors":"Chris Haywood","doi":"10.1080/13691058.2024.2394648","DOIUrl":"10.1080/13691058.2024.2394648","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The increased popularity of swinger clubs across the UK in the past two decades has not been met with commensurate public health initiatives or interventions that engage with the relationship between swinger clubs and sexual health. Consequently, the responsibility for sexual health promotion within these establishments largely depends on the discretion of club managers. Drawing on data from semi-structured interviews with 10 managers from across the UK, the study suggests that the managers' perceptions of the club-consumer relationship shape the nature of sexual health promotion. Three distinct approaches were evident in the research: those who perceive sexual health promotion as financially detrimental; those who see it as an individual rather than a collective club concern; and those who consider it as part of a broader social community responsibility. These findings highlighted an implicit beneficence of managers towards their customers; a shared assumption that an ideal consumer was heterosexual, partnered and in their forties; and differing perceptions of manager responsibility towards the sexual health of customers. The paper concludes by suggesting that the swinger community is a blind spot in sexual health discussion in the UK and that by talking to the managers of swinger clubs we can further develop our understanding of the area.</p>","PeriodicalId":10799,"journal":{"name":"Culture, Health & Sexuality","volume":" ","pages":"673-684"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142072243","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Katharina A Azim, Andrea A Lewis, Alison Happel-Parkins, Courtney Johnson-Benson, Margaux Kraemer, Hadyatou Diallo
{"title":"Medical gendered racism and Black women's experiences of genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder in the USA - A conceptual exploration.","authors":"Katharina A Azim, Andrea A Lewis, Alison Happel-Parkins, Courtney Johnson-Benson, Margaux Kraemer, Hadyatou Diallo","doi":"10.1080/13691058.2024.2399292","DOIUrl":"10.1080/13691058.2024.2399292","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Medical gendered racism in the USA has been and continues to be a significant issue for Black women across various healthcare domains, including sexual and pelvic healthcare. The experiences of Black women with Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder, characterised by pain with sexual intercourse, are particularly understudied in relation to medical gendered racism. This paper advances existing research on Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder by employing Black feminist thought and intersectionality as theoretical frameworks. We seek to conceptualise how medical gendered racism impacts Black women's experiences with genito-pelvic pain and the quality of their healthcare. We offer a nuanced, culturally sensitive approach to doing so and to clinical practice, and provide actionable recommendations for healthcare professionals. This work aims to equip researchers and healthcare practitioners with the knowledge and tools to acknowledge, understand, and support effective treatment of genito-pelvic pain experienced by Black women in the USA.</p>","PeriodicalId":10799,"journal":{"name":"Culture, Health & Sexuality","volume":" ","pages":"751-766"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142124993","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jessie L Krienert, Jeffrey A Walsh, Kimberly A Ingold
{"title":"Communicating sexual health to the incarcerated population: information dissemination in a US sample of inmate handbooks.","authors":"Jessie L Krienert, Jeffrey A Walsh, Kimberly A Ingold","doi":"10.1080/13691058.2024.2395465","DOIUrl":"10.1080/13691058.2024.2395465","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Incarcerated individuals frequently enter prison with a history of high-risk lifestyle behaviours likely to contribute to the transmission of infectious disease. Prisons offer a unique setting in which to advance health equity to an underserved population by disseminating information and education. Sexual health education has the potential to mitigate negative health consequences in the incarcerated population and improve sexual health practices upon community re-entry, benefiting both incarcerated individuals and communities. Limited empirical research examines sexual health information and education in US correctional facilities. Handbooks, given to all people upon incarceration, have the potential to provide vital information and education to promote safe sexual practice and prevent disease transmission. This work, guided by 22 critical sexual health education recommendations from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, examines the presence (or absence) of recommended sexual health information and guidance in prison handbooks. Handbooks (<i>n</i> = 74) from 49 of 50 US states were qualitatively analysed with results revealing limited information, education or guidance about sexual health/safe sexual practice during incarceration or afterwards. Utilising handbooks for comprehensive sexual education could be a critical step towards reaching members of an already at-risk underserved population.</p>","PeriodicalId":10799,"journal":{"name":"Culture, Health & Sexuality","volume":" ","pages":"701-718"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142119190","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Heather McCormack, Michelle Dickson, Thomas Harrington, Mahlia Garay, Robert Whybrow, Julie Mooney-Somers, Peter Aggleton, Lise Lafferty, Elke Mitchell, Jessica Morris, Bridget Haire
{"title":"Sexual healthcare to meet the needs of sexuality and gender diverse aboriginal young people: imagined possibilities.","authors":"Heather McCormack, Michelle Dickson, Thomas Harrington, Mahlia Garay, Robert Whybrow, Julie Mooney-Somers, Peter Aggleton, Lise Lafferty, Elke Mitchell, Jessica Morris, Bridget Haire","doi":"10.1080/13691058.2024.2394649","DOIUrl":"10.1080/13691058.2024.2394649","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In Australia, Aboriginal young people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer or otherwise sexuality and gender diverse (LGBTQ+) are recognised within several overlapping priority populations in state and federal sexually transmissible infection and HIV strategies. However, limited research has documented their unique sexual health experiences, needs and preferences. In this qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 LGBTQ+ Aboriginal young people aged 16-24 years in New South Wales. Interviews incorporated questions about service access, positive and negative experiences and self-determined healthcare priorities. We conducted a strengths-based thematic analysis to understand the issues of greatest importance in sexual healthcare for participants. Using the framework of 'imaginaries', we explored how participants imagined sexual healthcare that would meet their individual and cultural needs. The dominant imaginary centred on respect, representation and the as-yet-unrealised possibility of sexual healthcare designed by and for people who shared the intersection of Aboriginal and LGBTQ+ experience. We identified individual-level, service-level and societal-level factors influencing this imaginary, including relationships, accessibility and experiences of racism. Analysing the imaginaries constructed by LGBTQ+ Aboriginal young people of empowering, culturally safe sexual healthcare that is 'for them' provides insight into potential service design to improve sexual health outcomes for this population.</p>","PeriodicalId":10799,"journal":{"name":"Culture, Health & Sexuality","volume":" ","pages":"685-700"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142046388","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}