Bareback Sex: A Conflation of Risk and Masculinity

Holmes, Dave; Gastaldo, Denise; O’Byrne, Patrick; Lombardo, Anthony P.

doi:10.3149/jmh.0702.171

Cited by 27 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Consistent with the literature there was a complex interplay between conceptions and performances of masculinity 11 (Ridge, 2004;Holmes et al, 2008). Regardless of sexual position, men in this study were attracted to men who displayed masculine physical characteristics such as being 'built' or 'muscular' as well as behaviours such as being sexually dominant.…”

Section: Partner Attributessupporting

confidence: 77%

Barebacking and sexual position

2015

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This is the accepted version of the paper.This version of the publication may differ from the final published version. Permanent repository link AbstractBareback sex continues to fuel the HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men but despite the fact that much academic attention has been focused on the sexual behaviour of this population few authors have considered the significance of sexual position. In order to explore this relatively under-examined factor, interviews were conducted with 13 HIV-negative and unknown status gay men who had recently engaged in bareback sex. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis and through the lens of sexual position, the findings were organised across three super-ordinal themes. There were some areas in which there was little difference between the men's experiences of engaging in bareback as tops or bottoms (for instance, how participants connected with barebacking partners). In other areas, however, there were clear differences in men's experiences according to sexual position, particularly in the interpersonal dynamic between tops and bottoms during bareback sex encounters, which it is argued were acted out in accordance with a barebacking 'sexual script'. There were further differences by position in how individuals overcame 'cognitive dissonance' by invoking strategies to make their engagement in bareback sex safer and in the meanings men ascribed to bareback sex and semen exchange. These findings provide valuable insights for those working with MSM around HIV prevention.

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Section: Partner Attributessupporting

confidence: 77%

Barebacking and sexual position

2015

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“…In fact, seropositivity is the only person level factor consistently, across diverse studies, associated with barebacking and shows that some MSM risk HIV re-infection and acquisition of STIs through bareback sex. The study did not examine whether the participants engaged in serosorting, a risk reduction strategy reported among for example bareback-identified MSM in Canadian gay bathhouses (Holmes, Gastaldo, O'Byrne, & Lombardo, 2008), but even in seroconcordant situations, bareback sex raise concerns with regard to negative health complications. From a public health perspective, the finding is important because it reconfirms that MSM who engage in bareback sex may represent a unique subset of MSM with distinct HIV prevention needs , and prevention programs must be developed accordingly.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predictors of reporting bareback sex among a diverse sample of MSM recruited through a Swedish website

Berg

Tikkanen²,

Ross

2011

AIDS Care

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This study aimed to understand how person, health and sexual behavior, HIV-risk cognitions, and gay community involvement relate to barebacking among 3634 men who have sex with men (MSM) recruited by way of the Swedish website QX.se. In this sample, 10% reported that they had engaged in barebacking in the past year. Variables found to be statistically significant in the bivariate analyses were incorporated into a logistic regression domain-specific model. Variables that remained significantly associated with barebacking in domain 1 were being HIV-positive and having had a sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the past year. The variable talked with someone in HIV services remained significant in domain 2, and for domain 3, the variable used the Internet to look for a bareback partner remained significant. Two variables, believing taking semen in one's mouth involves no or low risk of HIV transmission and believing that engaging in insertive unprotected anal intercourse (IUAI) involves no or low risk of HIV transmission, remained significant in domain 4. The final multivariate regression analysis included six variables (from domains 1 to 4) and had a significant fit (χ (2)(6) = 2.571, p=0.958). The likelihood of engaging in barebacking was higher for those men who reported being HIV-positive (odds ratio [OR] = 2.77), having had an STI in the past year (OR = 1.67), and having used the Internet to look for a bareback partner (OR = 12.59). This first study to explore the predictors of bareback sex among a Nordic MSM sample suggests that bareback sex among northern European MSM is less common than among other samples. The findings reconfirm that MSM who engage in bareback sex may represent a unique subset of MSM with distinct HIV prevention needs.

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“…That is, the idea of being “bred” (the internal reception of ejaculate) may be appealing for Submissives who are highly sexually submissive and Dominants who are highly dominant. In other literature [5, 22] that explores condom eschewal and barebacking, semen deposition and reception is viewed as an act of domination or submission. To take the semen of another is to accept his will and authority; the Dominant leaves his mark.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

HIV in the Leather Community: Rates and Risk-Related Behaviors

et al. 2009

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There exist many subcultures of men who have sex with men (MSM), all with differing values and health behaviors. The Leathermen comprise one such subculture, which is characterized by a heightened valuation of hypersexuality and adherence to sexual control dynamics (i.e., submission and dominance). No previous research has specifically examined this community for differences in sexual health (e.g., HIV rates) and sexual health behaviors (e.g., condom use). We conducted a large survey of men (N = 1,554) at one leather and non-leather event, collecting data from 655 Submissives, Dominants, Switches, and non-orienting Leathermen. Leathermen were 61% more likely to be HIV-positive than non-Leathermen. Decreased condom use found in HIV-positive Leathermen (relative to HIV-positive non-Leathermen) was a potential factor contributing to heightened HIV rates. Universal low condom use in Submissives engaging in receptive, and Dominants engaging in insertive, anal intercourse was an additional trend that potentially contributed to increased numbers of HIV-positive Leathermen. Our recommendation is for heightened awareness of the risks associated with sex among Leathermen, especially unprotected anal intercourse with sero-uncertain Submissives.

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Bareback Sex: A Conflation of Risk and Masculinity

Cited by 27 publications

References 38 publications

Barebacking and sexual position

Barebacking and sexual position

Predictors of reporting bareback sex among a diverse sample of MSM recruited through a Swedish website

HIV in the Leather Community: Rates and Risk-Related Behaviors

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