“It’s more like the girl doesn’t really have to do anything”: Hispanic college women’s sexual initiation strategy perceptions.

Abstract

Identifying Hispanic college women’s perceptions of their ability to initiate sexual intimacy is critical given findings showing it can be a protective factor against sexual assault and other negative outcomes. Although research has shown sexually assertive behaviors are increasingly becoming normalized among women across college contexts, research specifically focused on Hispanic women’s perceptions of these behaviors remains limited. Guided by sexual scripting theory, this study examines 36 Hispanic college women’s subjective perceptions of women’s initiation of sexual intercourse with men. Two key themes were identified through thematic analysis: (a) perceptions of women’s sexual assertiveness and (b) appropriate strategies for initiating sexual intimacy. Although traditional gender beliefs did influence their beliefs, being sexually assertive was viewed as an acceptable strategy by most participants. However, fears of violating norms communicated via familial, peer, and cultural messaging influenced women’s ability to initiate intimacy with men. These findings highlight the importance of developing interventions targeting gender and contextual beliefs to increase healthy sexual initiation skills and reduce risk for unwanted sexual experiences among Hispanic women on campuses today.