Masculinity, power, sexual negotiation and AIDS : a discourse analysis

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dc.contributor.advisorSwartz, Sallyen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorMiles, Lesley Margaret Pearsen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2015-07-14T08:56:46Z
dc.date.available2015-07-14T08:56:46Z
dc.date.issued1996en_ZA
dc.descriptionBibliography: leaves 57-63.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThis study focusses on the relationship between masculinity, power, sexuality and AIDS. It examines how discursive positioning within discourses of sexuality and masculinity affects the way heterosexual men negotiate safer sex. Four groups of sexually active men aged 17-28 were constituted to discuss masculinity, sexual negotiation and AIDS. A vignette was used to prompt discussion. The resulting audio-taped leaderless men-only group discussions were analysed, using Hallway's interpretative discourse analysis, which draws on a. post-structuralist theory of discourse, especially as articulated by Foucault. In the accounts, it appeared that, firstly, the sexual drive discourse and male sexual drive discourse; and secondly, the discourses of sexual performance and potency, a.re the discourses offering subject positions which most directly impede the practice of safer sex. Negotiating safer sex interruptsĀ· the impetus of the "passion" of the sexual drive. Further, it threatens the imperatives of successful "performance" which entail erection, penetration, ejaculation, and responsibility for the woman's orgasm. Rationalisations for avoiding negotiating safer sex were also offered within the discourses of mood-breaking, trust/mistrust, and stigma. Discourses present tended to embody a.n ideology of male dominance within the sexual sphere, reinforcing theories which suggest that gendered power relations in society present a. major stumbling block to safer sex. Although discourses were similar across the groups, there were contradictory discourses within the groups which were voiced by particular individuals. It is suggested that core requirements of HIV education for men would be, firstly, depictions of alternative versions of masculinity and images of sexual practice which incorporated shared responsibility and questioned the "naturalness" of dominant constructions of heterosexuality; and secondly, the provision of safe spaces in which men may be able to reflexively explore their own sexuality and begin to imagine new ways of experiencing sexual relationships.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationMiles, L. M. P. (1996). <i>Masculinity, power, sexual negotiation and AIDS : a discourse analysis</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Psychology. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13490en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationMiles, Lesley Margaret Pears. <i>"Masculinity, power, sexual negotiation and AIDS : a discourse analysis."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Psychology, 1996. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13490en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationMiles, L. 1996. Masculinity, power, sexual negotiation and AIDS : a discourse analysis. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Miles, Lesley Margaret Pears AB - This study focusses on the relationship between masculinity, power, sexuality and AIDS. It examines how discursive positioning within discourses of sexuality and masculinity affects the way heterosexual men negotiate safer sex. Four groups of sexually active men aged 17-28 were constituted to discuss masculinity, sexual negotiation and AIDS. A vignette was used to prompt discussion. The resulting audio-taped leaderless men-only group discussions were analysed, using Hallway's interpretative discourse analysis, which draws on a. post-structuralist theory of discourse, especially as articulated by Foucault. In the accounts, it appeared that, firstly, the sexual drive discourse and male sexual drive discourse; and secondly, the discourses of sexual performance and potency, a.re the discourses offering subject positions which most directly impede the practice of safer sex. Negotiating safer sex interruptsĀ· the impetus of the "passion" of the sexual drive. Further, it threatens the imperatives of successful "performance" which entail erection, penetration, ejaculation, and responsibility for the woman's orgasm. Rationalisations for avoiding negotiating safer sex were also offered within the discourses of mood-breaking, trust/mistrust, and stigma. Discourses present tended to embody a.n ideology of male dominance within the sexual sphere, reinforcing theories which suggest that gendered power relations in society present a. major stumbling block to safer sex. Although discourses were similar across the groups, there were contradictory discourses within the groups which were voiced by particular individuals. It is suggested that core requirements of HIV education for men would be, firstly, depictions of alternative versions of masculinity and images of sexual practice which incorporated shared responsibility and questioned the "naturalness" of dominant constructions of heterosexuality; and secondly, the provision of safe spaces in which men may be able to reflexively explore their own sexuality and begin to imagine new ways of experiencing sexual relationships. DA - 1996 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 1996 T1 - Masculinity, power, sexual negotiation and AIDS : a discourse analysis TI - Masculinity, power, sexual negotiation and AIDS : a discourse analysis UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13490 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/13490
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationMiles LMP. Masculinity, power, sexual negotiation and AIDS : a discourse analysis. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Psychology, 1996 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13490en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Psychologyen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanitiesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherClinical Psychologyen_ZA
dc.titleMasculinity, power, sexual negotiation and AIDS : a discourse analysisen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMAen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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