Influences of culture on Asian Americans' sexuality

Abstract

Asian Americans comprise a population group that is characterized by an enormous demographic, historical, and cultural heterogeneity, yet Asian Americans also share many Asian cultural characteristics such as the primacy of the family and the collective's goals over individual wishes, emphasis on propriety and social codes, the appropriation of sexuality only within the context of marriage, and sexual restraint and modesty. Although there are significant gaps in the scientific literature concerning Asian Americans sexuality, the existing data point to notable differences between Asian Americans and other ethnic groups on major aspects of sexual behavior. For example, relative to other U.S. ethnic group cohorts, Asian American adolescents and young adults tend to show more sexually conservative attitudes and behavior and initiate sexual intercourse at a later age. There are indications that as Asian Americans become more acculturated to the mainstream American culture, their attitudes and behavior become more consistent with the White American norm. Consistent with their more sexually conservative tendencies in normative sexual behavior, Asian American women also appear more reluctant to obtain sexual and reproductive care, which in turn places them at a greater risk for delay in treatment for breast and cervical cancer as well as other gynecological problems. Available data suggest that the prevalence rate of sexual abuse in Asian American communities appear lower than those of other groups, although it is not clear to what extent the low rates are due to cultural reluctance to report shameful experiences.

Views on interracial dating among Chinese and European Canadians: The roles of culture, gender, and mainstream cultural identity

“…Moreover, Huang and Uba (1992) found that Chinese American women were more sexually experienced and more likely to be currently involved in a relationship than were Chinese American men of the same age. Given that sexual restraint and modesty are often viewed as characteristic to a degree of East Asian cultures (see Okazaki, 2002), greater sexual experience among bicultural female Chinese Americans may be seen as an indicator of low traditionalism. Suggested reasons for these findings of lower traditionalism among female East Asian immigrants include faster acculturation among females than males (Mok, 1999) and female immigrantsÕ rebellion against social pressure to conform to heritage ideals of femininity (e.g., Dion & Dion, 2004).…”

Dating and Sex Among Emerging Adults in Nepal

“…The high unemployment levels in Nepal now may contribute to the dating of unmarried boys and girls sex with married partners to ease their financial problems, although pre-and extramarital sexual relations are still a taboo in Nepal (Dahal, 2008;Okazaki, 2002;Puri & Busza, 2004).…”

“…According to Waszak and colleagues (2003: 83) "Girls "caught" talking to boys in public places are criticized and sometimes punished by parents and the community for being characterless." Hence, sexual activities before and outside marriage are often not acceptable (Dahal, 2008;Okazaki ). However, with increased exposure to global television and radio networks, movies and the modernisation of society and culture, the young generation has taken a more positive turn in terms of attitudes towards sexual relationships.…”

Adolescent School-Based Sexual Health Education and Training: A Literature Review on Teaching and Learning Strategies

“…Delivering sexual education through GBL is more likely to be harmless, comforting and supportive in cultures where talking about sex in public is taboo (Okazaki, 2002). This teaching and learning technique may promote skill transformation, such as problem solving and collaboration, which can be emphasized through GBL to promote sexual education among adolescents.…”

“…Insufficient skilled expertise (Hong Kong Department of Health, 2014), and 7. Taboos against socio-cultural values like speaking about sex in public in some countries (Okazaki, 2002).…”