jan norton

1. Understanding Young Men’s Condom Use Risk, Masculinity and Sexual Health Mark Limmer ( [email_address] ) Changing Up a Gear Young People’s Sexual Health and Well-being September 10 th & 11 th 2008 Manchester

6. Masculinity and Sex “ The 3f’s – fighting fucking and football” (Mac An Ghaill, 1994) Hegemonic Masculinity – living up to and performing the masculine ideal (Connell, 1995)

12. Significant Risk; Policy: Responsibility of fatherhood and danger of infection Young People: Fatherhood either met with ambivalence or welcomed. Infections won’t happen to me “I don’t shag dirty girls”

13. Reconceptualising Condom Risk for young men Avoid infection (but this can be achieved in other ways) Avoid fatherhood (can be addressed through EHC or abortion and is anyway young women’s problem or not seen as a problem. Young Men No need – wouldn’t have sex with the kind of young woman who would have infection – unless drunk. Risk failure of erection Require negotiation Consistent use may impede taking some sexual opportunities Accessing health services counter to masculinity and may expose lack of knowledge Why use condoms Why not to use condoms

14. Not all young men are the same – demonstrating masculinity through sex and risk is more important for young men who can’t demonstrate it in other ways. To date the emphasis on policy and practice has been on emphasising the risks of conception and infection

15. Policy and practice implications Need to shift focus to strategies that address the breadth of men’s concerns Need to move away from information towards the young men’s frame of reference Gender power relations are not just a feminist fad – but central to change Increase young men’s repertoire of what it means to be a man Is pleasure the answer? DISCUSSION