Sexual consent for gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM), presents a unique challenge in comparison to those of other sexes and sexual orientations according to findings of a new comprehensive study published in the Journal of Sex Research.
The study, which took in detailed and personal first-hand (qualitative) accounts from GBM from the United States, Canada, the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, shows how a series of issues including communication barriers, obligation/expectation to engage in sex, masculinity norms, and sexual positions can create struggles for GBM to face when they attempt to navigate sexual consent during their sexual encounters with other men.
While numerous men in the study reported having no issues negotiating sexual consent, many did. In total 78% of the 350 men interviewed reported various issues around consent negotiation, whilst 64% described instances where some form of unwanted sexual experience occurred.
Lead author Raymond McKie, M.S., a Ph.D. candidate from the University of Ottawa, states that the stories of the men interviewed presents a ‘unique’ picture and reveals ‘important trends’ that this population of men experience – including issues prior, during, and post, a sexual encounter.
McKie said: ‘These findings highlight the complications that can arise from a reliance on non-verbal approaches to negotiating sexual consent among GBM. Sexual scripts are constructed based on societal norms and ideals around sexuality. However, for GBM, these scripts and norms are less clear, and as such, GBM are left to navigate their understanding of sexual consent from a perspective that does not always fit their sexual interactions and desires.
‘For instance, many respondents recounted how the stereotypes around gay men’s hypersexuality made consent negotiation more complicated and challenging. Participants discussed a sense of a normative pressure to always be ready for and interested in sex.
‘Further, sexual settings (e.g. bathhouses, cruising areas, gay clubs with dark rooms meant for sex) made consent negotiation even more complicated at times as the man was already in a space seeking for sex, but perhaps not with the person who chose to pursue them.’
Participants were aged between 18 to 73; the average age was 33. Of the 350 participants, 266 men self-identified as gay, 71 as bisexual, 11 as bi-curious, whilst two self-identified as two-spirited. The majority of interviewees were Caucasian, (73.8%), followed by Asian (9%); African, Caribbean, Black (3.8); Latino (2.8%), Middle Eastern (1.4%); and Indigenous (1%). The remaining 9.2% identified as an ‘other’ ethnicity.
To see the full report, visit the website.
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