The interconnectedness of chemsex, drugs, sexual promiscuity and sexual violence

Abstract

In this paper, the author attempts to build a critical analysis of the interconnections between chemsex, drugs, sexual promiscuity and male sexual violence. The notion of power is understood within the context of chemsex, along with issues of drug taking and sexual promiscuity since these activities often manifest in chemsex settings. By formulating a theoretical and conceptual analysis, drawing on hegemonic masculinity and normative heterosexuality as theoretical and conceptual frameworks to elucidate some links between chemsex, drug taking, sexual promiscuity and male sexual violence, it is argued that the contexts in which chemsex occurs also give rise to male sexual assault and male rape in that the likelihood of these crimes occurring increases. This work is not (nor could it) generalize to a population. The slow upsurge of writing around male sexual victimisation has overlooked important and salient links between chemsex and male sexual violence. This paper offers a dialogue in which to speak about these links, encouraging future research on these important subject matters to contribute to knowledge in order to fully understand male rape. Making sense of these important links can provide some understanding of the personal, social and cultural implications associated with chemsex and male sexual violence. The current paper contributes to current debates in gender and sexuality studies, adding to current understandings of social and cultural constructions of masculinities and sexualities. Identifying the links between gender, sexualities, chemsex and male rape has largely been absent in gender and sexuality studies. The current paper makes these links to recognise and understand the different ways in which men navigate through different masculinities and sexualities, how they perpetuate or dispel hegemonic masculinity, and how men are positioned in certain masculinities in chemsex contexts. The paper considers the growing popularity of sexual practices that involve levels of drug use sufficient to pose tangible risks to those involved, which is clearly an important issue to highlight and to discuss.

Proving Manhood: Gay Culture, Competitiveness, Risk, and Mental Wellbeing

“…Beginning in 2011, the extent to which the use of chemsex drugs had escalated into a crisis among gay and bisexual men, came to the attention of the National Health Service (NHS) in London (Bourne et al, 2014). At the time there appeared a prominent rise in the number of people seeking help, owing to problems linked to the use of chemsex drugs (Javaid, 2018). In partnership with the Antidote Service, an increase was recorded in the amount of sexual minority men attending the drop-in service with issues relating to drug taking and sexual activity.…”

“…Chemsex is self-destructive for a number of reasons, but significantly because of its correlation with the rise of STIs and HIV infections. As part of the changing nature of sexual activity among nonheterosexual men, the service saw chemsex as a growing phenomena (Hakim, 2018;Javaid, 2018). Together with changes in physical conditions, clinicians noted the experience left many with long-term psychological damage.…”

“…The Crime Survey for England and Wales released statistics in 2013, stating that approximately 9,000 men had been the victims of rape, or attempted rape, each year (Ministry of Justice, 2014). Yet according to Javaid (2018), this figure represents but the tip of an iceberg as an accurate indication of the true extent, because a high level of incidents go unrecorded.…”

“Slam Sex” - Sexualized Injecting Drug Use (“SIDU”) Amongst Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM)—A Scoping Review

“…Some participants may withdraw their own blood, use it as a solvent for injectable drugs, and inject themselves and/or others with this solution (Kirby & Thornber-Dunwell, 2013). This interaction can be viewed as a power negotiation between sexual participants which renders those with less power at a disadvantage (Javaid, 2018).…”

Hear my screams: An auto-ethnographic account of the police

“…The persistence of male rape stigma (Abdullah- Khan, 2008;Javaid, 2018aJavaid, , 2018cRumney, 2008Rumney, , 2009, and the threat that male rape poses to men's hegemonic masculinity (Javaid, 2018e), made it difficult for officers to tell their stories indepth during the interviews. This stigma contributed to a 'culture of silence' in the interviews.…”