Behaving badly? Young men and sexual health

How can young men change their attitudes to sex and sexual health? What methods can be used to challenge their views? Researchers from the Thomas Coram Research Unit at the Institute of Education, University of London and Southampton University considered ways of improving the sexual health of young men in developing countries.

Work concerning young men and sexuality has been largely neglected. Yet it is vital that this work is carried out because men’s behaviour and attitudes not only affects their own health but also directly affects the health of their partners. Men are more likely than women to have several sexual partners and to use drugs. Young men seem more able than their older counterparts to openly discuss sexual matters

Dominant cultural attitudes often lead to unsafe sex. In Costa Rica, as in many other countries, young women believe they should submit to the will of the man they love and trust him absolutely. As a result many have unprotected sex with their partner. Men, on the other hand, do not wish to appear ‘unmanly’. They are encouraged to be fearless and take risks. In some parts of Peru, male infidelity is regarded as a fact of life. Many women accept their husbands have more than one sexual partner as long as he continues to support the family. Young people need to think about the roles they play and how cultural stereotypes influence their behaviour.

The research found that alternative role models were needed to replace the existing macho stereotypes, which endanger both the health of young men and their partners. Young men will be more likely to come to a group that covers wider issues than sexual health such as employment, sports and other leisure activities.

Further findings include:

• Young men were keen to talk about sexuality, given the right environment.
• It was important to avoid blame when working with young men.
• Young men need to discuss attitudes to homosexuality.
• They need the opportunity to talk about their own experiences.
• Young men in some of the projects benefited from mixed groups of men and women to enable them to hear a woman’s point of view.
• In some areas it was necessary to go to places where young men usually meet to involve them in the programme.

When working with young men the study found that for a project to be successful it was important to:

• provide the workers with training to ensure the services are youth-friendly and suitable for young men
• discuss how male roles and attitudes in their society influences them
• find acceptable alternatives to the masculine stereotypes which put young men at risk
• offer more than just sexual advice; providing sports, leisure activities and training for employment will broaden the appeal
• involve young men in setting up the project to make sure it meets their needs.

Source(s):
‘Working with Young Men to Promote Sexual and Reproductive Health’ by Kim Rivers and Peter Aggleton, Safe Passages to Adulthood, January 2002 Full document.

Funded by: UK Department for International Development

id21 Research Highlight: 18 February 2003

Further Information:
Penny Mellor
Thomas Coram Research Unit
Institute of Education
University of London
27/28 Woburn Square London
WC1H 0AA

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7612 6449
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7612 6927
Contact the contributor: p.mellor@ioe.ac.uk

Institute of Education, University of London, UK

University of Southampton

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