ABSTRACT
The explosion in studies of sexuality, and its journey to a more central position in the social sciences began with the AIDS crisis when it became clear how little was known about contemporary sexual behaviour and the implications this might have for the AIDS epidemic. Many studies took an epidemiological or quantitative approach to sexual practices, what, how often, with or without condoms? (Johnson et al. 1994). Initially gay men were the target, seen as a group at risk, but the emphasis changed from risky groups to risky practices as it became clear that heterosexuals were not immune. Similarly the sensitive nature of the enquiry and the search for meanings to understand behaviour led to increasing use of qualitative approaches. The large field of youth studies encompasses a range of perspectives, typically breaking young lives into segments – psychological development, family, education, work, although pioneers advocate a holistic approach – or regard them as problems. Their sexuality is often ignored or marginalized in these studies, perhaps entering through the focus on problems requiring control. They might be drug users, smoking and drinking too much and becoming sexually active too young or in ways regarded as inappropriate by adults. Teenage mothers are a typical concern from a policy and research perspective. In addition, building on a long history of school ethnography, a large number of studies have examined the behaviour of young people in relation to sexual values, beliefs and practices and the concomitant construction of masculinity and femininity in schools. Those researching and writing about young people’s sexual lives and sexuality stand
somewhat apart from the mainstream of youth studies, which draws on social theory generally, and draw particularly on feminist and sexualities theorists (e.g. Foucault 1979; Connell 1995). They oppose essentialism as a way of understanding masculinity and femininity, and operate with a broadly social constructionist, or a deconstructive, postmodern or queer approach, although feminist materialism continues as important. Following on from feminist gender work and masculinity studies, many look at young men and women separately, but others grapple with both, just as they grapple with the relationship between sexuality and gender. This chapter draws largely on studies in Anglophone
and European countries to examine how the sexual lives and sexualities of young people have been studied and understood, and pursues five intersecting themes that emerge as critical in the literature: the relationship between sexuality and gender; hegemonic masculinity and male power; institutional reinforcement of heteronormativity; change and continuity – changing masculinities and femininities; and resistance.
