A qualitative study of the lived experiences of young Chinese females in condom use negotiations

Abstract

Based on a qualitative study of young Chinese females' lived experiences of condom use negotiations, this paper discusses how a gender and power perspective provides a new frame of reference in which to examine the shaping of young women's perception and decision-making regarding contraception. The recurrent themes of the narratives collected through individual interviews with 10 adolescent pregnant females living in Hong Kong indicate that their lack of bargaining power for sexual safety is maintained by the structures of social norms and their strong affective attachments to their partners. The findings facilitate practitioners' development of a multi-layered understanding of the power dynamics in sexual relationships and draw implications for further practice and research. Chinese cultural factors have also been explored in a contextual discussion on the influences of traditional gender roles on the constitution of adolescent sexual identities and sexual behaviours.

Age-Based Mixing and Condom Use Patterns in Opposite-Sex Adult Partnerships in Hong Kong

“…Regarding condom use, older age groups of both sexes reported less consistent use (35–44 and 45+ years), with particularly low use in combinations of older men with younger female partners. This finding is supported by past research on the salience of partners' age discrepancy as a factor in lower female condom negotiating power, 21–24 although we note that most such studies focus on women's casual or commercial sex partners. Our data provide rare insight into condom use patterns between regular partners but introduce new considerations more common in these types of relationships: greater emotional trust, 25 older age, 26 fertility intentions, or reliance on alternative forms of contraception 25,27,28 …”

Predictors of Consistent Condom Use Among Chinese Female Sex Workers: An Application of the Protection Motivation Theory

“…Behavioral surveillance data show that 60% of FSWs in China use condoms inconsistently (Wang et al, 2009). FSWs have less power to negotiate condom use since condom use depends on male cooperation and behavior, particularly in Chinese society with patriarchal norm (To, Tam, & Chu, 2012). Consistent condom use may also differ by the type of sexual partners (e.g., casual or stable) (Lofberg, Sharma, Keli, Bukusi, & Cohen, 2004; Macaluso, Demand, Artz, & Hook, 2000).…”

Interaction Effects Between Exposure to Sexually Explicit Online Materials and Individual, Family, and Extrafamilial Factors on Hong Kong High School Students’ Beliefs About Gender Role Equality and Body-Centered Sexuality

“…Such a process shapes the way in which they perceive gender roles and sexual relationships. For instance, according to traditional Chinese culture, men and women should assume different roles, and women should be subordinate to men (To, Tam, & Chu, 2012). Moreover, there is a widespread belief that wives’ individual rights and interests should not rule over the relationship with their husbands.…”