Black people’s constructions of good sex: Describing good sex from the margins

Hargons, Candice N.; Thorpe, Shemeka; Malone, Natalie; Wright, Christina J.; Dogan, Jardin; Mizell, Destin L; Stuck, Jennifer; Sullivan, Queen-Ayanna; Sanchez, Anyoliny; Bohmer, Carrie; Stage, Michelle; Bruther, Kearstin; Vigil, Kasey; Cineas, Marla R.; Gilbert, Tracie Q.

doi:10.1177/13634607221101854

Cited by 11 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Specifically, empirical literature tends to focus on the problematic aspects of Black men’s sexualities and reduces them to racist sexual stereotypes (e.g., hypersexual, hedonistic predators with large genitalia, Bowleg et al, 2017). As an intervention, the emerging cannon of sex-positive research on Black men’s sexualities has focused on Black gay men’s love, pleasure, and affection (Calabrese et al, 2015), Black collegiate men’s definition of pleasure (Hargons et al, 2018; Ware et al, 2020), heterosexual Caribbean men’s constructions of sexual health (Crowell et al, 2016), and the ways Black men of varying sexual identities construct good sex (Hargons et al, 2022). Yet, few of these studies have focused on how Black men are socialized to view and experience one of the most common sexual experiences: masturbation.…”

Section: Masturbation Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“It’s what boys do”: Valence, source, and content of Black men’s masturbation messages.

Hargons,

Wright,

Thorpe

et al. 2024

Psychology of Men & Masculinities

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In recent years, masturbation has become a less stigmatized topic and practice, suggesting a change in the masturbation messages that are communicated. Boys and men have often received neutral or positive messages about masturbation from their social networks and media; however, Black men’s masturbation socialization has yet to be examined. As a function of marginalized race and privileged gender, Black men occupy a unique standpoint that may influence the valence and content of the masturbation messages they receive. This study employed exploratory sequential mixed methods to analyze data from 149 Black cismen about the masturbation messages they received. The analysis revealed six themes: (a) masturbation is shameful, (b) masturbation is sinful, (c) masturbation is a sign of inadequacy, (d) masturbation is a normal, healthy part of manhood, (e) masturbation messages change as a function of age, and (f) masturbation has pros and cons. By focusing on message valence, sexual socialization, and identity, this research informs the theoretical understanding of masturbation messages and provides insight into Black men’s sexual development.

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Section: Masturbation Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“It’s what boys do”: Valence, source, and content of Black men’s masturbation messages.

Hargons,

Wright,

Thorpe

et al. 2024

Psychology of Men & Masculinities

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…These incorporate facets of sexual experiences beyond orgasm (e.g., intimacy, empowerment, nonorgasmic physical sensations, etc.) into definitions of sexual satisfaction (Goldey et al, 2016; Hargons et al, 2018, 2022; Jagose, 2010; Jones, 2019; Loeser et al, 2018; McRuer, 2011; Thorpe et al, 2022; Tiefer, 2004). Together, this research further highlights the exciting potential that queer science’s challenge offers to a psychological science of gender/sex/uality.…”

Section: Queer Science and Gender/sex/ualitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Feminist and queer science: Principles for research with gender, sex, and sexuality in psychology and beyond.

Anders¹,

Schudson²,

Beischel³

et al. 2023

Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity

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Feminist/queer science offers exciting possibilities for psychology and other fields. In this article, we review a set of dynamic principles for feminist/queer science, based in research with gender, sex, and sexuality (gender/sex/uality). There are potentially surprising ways that queer and science overlap for a queer science, and we focus on four: construction, openness, challenge, and multiplicities. There are also meeting points between feminism and science that support a feminist science, and we again focus on four: bias, truth, objectivity, and empiricism. Yet there are a number of challenges to feminist/queer science, including those that are epistemological, empirical, and methodological. We detail these, articulating how feminist/queer science also provides ways to address, sidestep, and move beyond them. Throughout, we articulate how feminist/queer science provides a dynamic and rigorous way forward for psychological science as well as other fields, and we conclude by articulating how it can lead to more empirical, accurate, and just knowledge.

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“…By incorporating the theory of intersectionality posed by Collins (2002), Crenshaw (1991), and other Black feminists alongside Heredia and Rider's (2020) intersectional framework for sex therapy, sexuality researchers can better capture the impact of experiencing multiple forms of discrimination on the sexual well-being of LGBQ+ PGM and gender-diverse LGBQ+ folx. Researchers specifically investigating the experiences of Black LGBTQ+ populations have uncovered rich findings about the multifaceted definitions of good sex, including a focus on pleasure, feeling liberated, and love (Hargons et al, 2022). Heredia and Rider (2020) exemplify how sex therapists and researchers can facilitate and preserve active resistance and awareness against oppression in sexual and relationship contexts.…”

Section: Sex-positive Research Among Plurisexual Populations Predomin...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Analyzing (pluri)sexual satisfaction and pleasure: A 38-year content analysis.

Vigil¹,

Hargons²,

Savage³

et al. 2023

Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity

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Sexual satisfaction (i.e., feeling sexually fulfilled) and sexual pleasure (i.e., positive physical and emotional experiences during sex) are predominantly studied among heterosexual, white, cisgender samples; whereas, sex research using lesbian, gay, bisexual, or queer (LGBQ+) samples has often taken a deficit-based approach (e.g., sexually transmitted infection, engagement in risky sex). By studying this population predominantly within a deficit-based approach, the risk of pathologizing them rises, especially among multiply marginalized LGBQ+ individuals. Among the studies that do employ a sex-positive lens with LGBQ+ samples, existing scholarship has not been systematically reviewed to determine the representation of plurisexual individuals (i.e., bisexual and pansexual), how these studies depict their intersecting marginalized racial and gender identities, or the inclusion of LGBQ+-specific variables (i.e., internalized homonegativity [IH], internalized binegativity [IB], identity pride [IP]). To address these questions, we conducted a 38-year (1983-2021) content analysis of literature studying sexual satisfaction and/or sexual pleasure among LGBQ+ individuals. Of 75 articles analyzed, sexual satisfaction was measured more frequently (N = 65) than sexual pleasure (N = 10). While roughly half of the articles (N = 39) included bisexual participants, on average they comprised only 10.58% of the sample. Pansexual (N = 5) or queer (N = 9) identities were significantly less represented within samples. Twelve articles included IH, one article included IB more specifically, and two articles included identity affirmation or pride. Only 12 articles included samples that were not predominately white and 11 articles included transgender or gender-expansive participants. Implications for future research among plurisexual samples will be discussed. Public Significance StatementThis content analysis indicates that plurisexual individuals overall and plurisexual individuals who hold other intersecting marginalized identities are vastly underrepresented in sex-positive research focusing on the LGBTQ+ community. Our findings highlight the need for intentional study design that is specifically catered to the unique experiences of multiply marginalized plurisexual individuals.

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Black people’s constructions of good sex: Describing good sex from the margins

Cited by 11 publications

References 47 publications

“It’s what boys do”: Valence, source, and content of Black men’s masturbation messages.

“It’s what boys do”: Valence, source, and content of Black men’s masturbation messages.

Feminist and queer science: Principles for research with gender, sex, and sexuality in psychology and beyond.

Analyzing (pluri)sexual satisfaction and pleasure: A 38-year content analysis.

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