Sexual Health in a Social and Cultural Context: a Qualitative Study of Young Latina Lesbian, Bisexual, and Queer Women

Abstract

Previous research on sexual minority and Latina women suggests that Latina lesbian, bisexual, and queer (LBQ) women may be at high risk for sexually associated and transmitted infections, but research on the sexual health and practices of this population is limited. This qualitative study explored the knowledge, attitudes, and values related to sexual health among a purposive sample of Latina LBQ women living in Seattle, WA. Latina LBQ women (N = 14) were recruited to participate in in-depth interviews about their sexual health through community organizations, flyers posted on college campuses, email and social media advertisements, and participant referrals. In-person semi-structured interviews were conducted and transcribed; transcripts were coded by two independent coders and reviewed for prominent themes. Four main themes emerged: 1) Latina sexual minorities’ sexual health is shaped by their social and cultural context, 2) they lack needed sexual health knowledge, 3) their sexual health behaviors vary depending on the relationship status and gender of their partners, and 4) they value taking responsibility for their own sexual health. Further research is needed to better understand sexual health among Latina LBQ women and to identify ways in which their values can be leveraged to promote positive sexual health outcomes.

Minority stress and coping among sexual diverse Latinxs.

“…Of note, our study is among the few qualitative studies to include a significant proportion of sexual diverse Latinas. In line with previous research with sexual diverse Latina young adults (Gattamorta & Quidley-Rodriguez, 2018; Santos et al, 2017), sexual diverse Latinas in our study reported stressful gendered expectations shaped by both machismo and marianismo. This highlights how socialization into traditional Latinx cultural values around gender in the family and community involving devotion to child rearing, virginity, and deference functions to maintain and reproduce gender inequality.…”

“…We have highlighted that SDLs may be treated as titillating sexual objects as a result of how the intersection of their racial/ethnic, sexual, and gender identities are perceived by others. This extends previous studies that have shown that racial discrimination plays a role in the experiences of sexual objectification of sexual diverse Latinas (Chmielewski, 2017; Santos, Williams, Rodriguez, & Ornelas, 2017) and sexual diverse Latinos (Bianchi et al, 2010; Ibañez et al, 2009). The sexual objectification reported by our sample is noteworthy given that studies have found it to be associated with perceived likelihood of sexual and intimate partner violence and physical safety anxiety (Flores et al, 2018).…”

Risk and Protective Factors for Sexual Health Outcomes Among Black Bisexual Men in the U.S.: Internalized Heterosexism, Sexual Orientation Disclosure, and Religiosity

“…Black gay and bisexual men consistently account for the largest number of HIV infections each year (CDC, 2015). Though this is a bourgeoning area of research with growing opportunities for national funding to reduce negative sexual health outcomes (e.g., HIV and/or sexually transmitted infections (STIs)), very little attention has been paid to bisexual men in particular, especially bisexual men of color (Crawford, Allison, Zamboni, & Soto, 2002; Malebranche, Arriola, Jenkins, Dauria, & Patel, 2010; Santos, Williams, Rodriguez, & Ornelas, 2017; Zamboni & Crawford, 2007). In fact, research that specifically focuses on health among bisexual men—disaggregated or separate from those who identify as gay, lesbian, or heterosexual— is limited; many samples are small or insufficient, and as a result, bisexual participants are oftentimes collapsed into one ‘sexual minority’ subgroup (Brewster & Moradi, 2010; Dodge, Sandfort, & Firestein, 2007).…”