Sexual Perceptions Research Articles

“Maybe what happened is actually OK?” Child sexual abuse by authority figures in the ultra-orthodox community in Israel: Survivors' perceptions of their relationships with the perpetrator

BackgroundChild sexual abuse (CSA) by authority figures in a religious community (AFRCs) has been studied extensively among the Catholic clergy, and to a limited extent among Orthodox Jewish communities in the United States and Australia. However, less attention has been devoted to the phenomenon within the Israeli context. ObjectiveThis article examines the perceptions of survivors within the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community in Israel of their relationships with authority figures in the community who sexually abused them. Methods21 in-depth interviews were conducted with men who were abused by authority figures within ultra-Orthodox institutions, which were analyzed based on a thematic approach (Braun & Clarke, 2006). ResultsThe results indicated that in childhood, almost none of the participants recognized that they were sexually abused. Their relationships with the authority figures were instead perceived as one of four variations: (1) normative-educative; (2) mutual; (3) an episode in a hypersexual routine; or (4) abusive punitive. Perceptions later shifted, mostly in adulthood, towards a recognition of the sexual abuse and its personal consequences. ConclusionsThe findings stress the importance of contextual factors (such as perceptions of sexuality, community structures, and cultural norms) in how ultra-Orthodox children experience abuse by authority figures in the community and its aftermath, with implications for successful prevention and intervention efforts.

Private Body and Social Order: Problems of Sex among Pre‐Modern Middle Eastern Jews

AbstractThis article centres on a case that was brought to the Jewish court in Egypt around the middle of the seventeenth century. The protagonist was a man who was diagnosed with melancholy. The proposed cure, coitus, led the arbiter, Rabbi Mordechai Halevi, to discuss the ethical dilemma concerning its realisation, because the man's wife lived in Istanbul. The article contains two inter‐related parts. The first analyses the legal case as a meeting of complementary interests. The second discusses the aetiology and the prevalence of two parallel diseases that were mentioned in the case: sperm‐retention melancholy and suffocation of the womb. The article examines the social functions of these diseases, against the background of cultural perceptions of sexuality and gender in the Jewish communities of the pre‐modern Middle East, thus shedding new light on patients as historical agents.

Perceived/Experienced Sexism Scale: Women’s Perceptions of Support and Job Attitudes during #MeToo

Existing measures of sexism are intended to identify and measure sexism amongst men and women by examining perpetrator’s actions or thoughts. However, researchers must make assumptions as to the effect such sexist acts or behaviors has on the target (women). The current study provides a psychometrically sound measure intended to capture perceived/experienced sexism by women in the workplace, the Perceived/Experienced Sexism Scale (PESS). PESS is utilized to consider the effects of perceived experiences of benevolent and hostile sexism at work, as well their relationships with perceived organizational support and the job attitudes of job satisfaction and turnover intentions. Results from 220 (November 2015) and 183 (March 2018) female employees suggest perceived organizational support and trust perceptions mediate the relationships between perceptions of sexism and organizational outcomes of job satisfaction and turnover intentions. This study answers calls from organizational support theorists to investigate unfavorable treatment by those within the organization and extrapolate how the fulfillment of socioemotional needs act as a mechanism linking perceived organizational support to organizational outcomes. This study further validates the PESS scale with samples prior to and after the beginning of the #MeToo movement, finding significant differences between the samples in women’s experiences of sexism.

Young Generation’s Perceptions of Same-Sex Sexuality and Attitudes Toward Same-Sex Marriage in South Korea

It is important to pay attention to the rights of lesbians and gay men within the global context of antidiscrimination. This study focused on the young generation’s perceptions of same-sex sexuality and their attitudes toward same-sex marriage with revisiting Korean Confucianism as a conceptual framework. A total of 110 college students residing in the Seoul metropolitan areas of South Korea participated in this study. The study used participant-generated imagery and face-to-face interviews for data collection. Data were examined using a hybrid approach of thematic analysis that relied on deductive and inductive coding. The results highlighted young Koreans’ conflicting perceptions of same-sex sexuality and ambivalent attitudes toward same-sex marriage. Young Koreans perceived lesbians and gay men as marginalized in spite of democratic transition and social movements in South Korea. They showed tolerance to same-sex sexuality under a human rights–based approach. At the same time, the results revealed that they still held on to traditional Korean Confucianism. There are young Koreans opposing same-sex marriage because of their rationale of Confucian heteronormativity, value of social order within collectivism, and belief of familism. The results suggest a reinterpretation of the young generation’s ambivalence regarding same-sex sexuality in the light of Confucian-family-oriented collectivism in South Korea.

Family Support and Sociocultural Factors on Depression among Black and Latinx Sexual Minority Men.

Family-based approaches are critical for improving health outcomes in sexual minority men (SMM) of color. Yet, it is unclear how family context, internalized homophobia, and stress influence mental health outcomes among sexual minority men of color. From a cross-sectional sample of 448 participants, aged 16–24 years, survey data were analyzed to examine rates of family social support, the perception of sexuality by family, the stressfulness of life events, internalized homophobia, and other contextual variables on depression using linear regression. Our results indicated that an 86% increase in family social support was related to a −0.14 decrease in depression (ß = −0.14, p = 0.004). In addition, SMM who were separated by family and friends because of their sexuality were statistically significant and positively associated with depression (ß = 0.09, p < 0.001). Findings from our study suggest that the influence from the microsystem is salient in modifying mental health outcomes for SMM of color.

Ancient Roman Naval Rams as Objects of Phallic Power

AbstractPolyvalent meanings behind naval ram displays were prevalent and ingrained in the Roman world, especially at Octavian’s Campsite Memorial for the Actian War. Naval rams and their display alluded to gender and power discourses within Roman society. These discourses included Roman notions of sex, penetration, domination, phallus size, and ideas of achieved hierarchies of masculinity. Analyzing ram displays through Roman perceptions of gender and sexuality, specifically concerning ancient masculinity, reveals that rams functioned not only as weapons of war but also as metaphorical phalloi that embodied and projected immense power. Octavian’s ram display at Actium was used to effeminize Marc Antony through the successful defeat and figurative castration of his fleet, which was done by cutting off the rams from the bows of the warships. By exhibiting the rams as such, Octavian asserted his own impenetrability and masculine virtue, which simultaneously promoted Antony’s penetrability and lack of masculinity. In choosing the largest rams, Octavian implied that his masculine prowess was invincible. The ram display unveiled Octavian’s phallic dominion over all other Greeks and Romans. As Octavian’s naval ram display was the largest and most impressive of the ancient world, he effectively rendered all previous ram dedications subordinate to his own.

Perception and experiences of sexual harassment among women working in hospitality workplaces of Bahir Dar city, Northwest Ethiopia: a qualitative study

BackgroundWorkplace sexual harassment is a public health problem that depends on gender, context, and perceived ideology. Although studies have documented the prevalence and consequences of workplace sexual harassment worldwide, victims’ perceptions and experiences are still poorly understood in low and middle-income countries, particularly Ethiopia. Female workers in the hospitality industry, including hotels, bars, restaurants, fast-food restaurants, and cafeterias, are particularly affected. Hence, this study aimed to explore sexual harassment perceptions and experiences among women working in these workplaces.MethodsAn exploratory qualitative study was conducted from 1 January to 30 August 2019. Data were collected from female employees and key informants from several hospitality workplaces in Bahir Dar City. Data were collected through focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, and key-informant interviews. Women who experienced sexual harassment were selected using the snowball method, and key informants were recruited purposefully. Six focus group discussions, ten in-depth interviews, and thirteen key informant interviews were conducted. Data were analysed using the ATLAS ti version 8.4.24.ResultsIn this study, most participants perceived that sexual harassment is pressuring, threatening, touching, abducting sexual advances, and experiencing verbal, physical, and non-verbal types. Similarly, the perceived risk factors were related to the organisations, the customers, and the victims, with the consequences being work-related, health-related, financial-related, and family-related.ConclusionsWorkplace sexual harassment in hospitality workplaces is poorly understood, but many women experience it. A variety of factors also caused it, and it influenced both organisations and people. Public awareness programs, pre-service preparation, in-service training, prevention, and psychosocial support are needed. Similarly, policies and strategies for the organisations should be developed and implemented.

Girl Wonder: Nathalia Crane, Poetic Prodigy of the 1920s

Largely forgotten today, from approximately the late 1910s through the 1930s, at least a dozen young girls brought out numerous books in the US. But there was one girl who was particularly talented and successful: Nathalia Crane, who published her first collection of poetry when she was just eleven years old in 1924. This article analyzes both her work and her reception from her first success through the subsequent controversy over her authorship instigated by a local Brooklyn newspaper. In the process, the article demonstrates the complicated connections between perceptions of girlhood and women's sexuality as they relate to political agency in the early twentieth-century United States.

Perception of Sexuality and Body Image among Adolescent Girls

Background: Adolescence is a phase during which major developments of sexuality take place. Development of sexuality is an important bio-psycho-social development, which takes an adult shape during this period. Objective: To study how adolescent girls perceive changes in their bodies during the growing period of adolescence and to study their sexual behaviour during this period. Methodology: The study was a community-based cross-sectional study conducted among adolescent girls undergoing vocational training course at the rural health center. 100 participants enrolled in the institute for the course were included. A semi-structured questionnaire was prepared with informed assent. One to one interviews were conducted maintaining privacy, Data were statistically analysed using SPSS version 23. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 16.02+/-1.2 years. We found that a prior awareness of menses is significantly related to a good feeling after menarche. About a third of the Community Health Workers (CHWs) felt shy or weird about their breast changes during adolescence and 66% were unhappy about their heights. 66% of the adolescents were practising masturbation and 38% among them were open to a physical relationship. 60% of them were not aware of medical intervention and 28% admitted to having experienced sexual assault. Conclusion: Understanding adolescent development and the factors influencing it is of utmost importance as it will help the parents to guide their children in the crossroads of adolescence. Due to incomplete knowledge, accepting bodily changes during adolescence becomes difficult. We, as public health experts, need to commit to an educative practice of support for adolescents.

Social Networks and Exchange Sex among Transgender Women

ABSTRACT Transgender women are more likely to exchange sex than cisgender individuals. This study investigated how social networks were associated with exchange sex among transgender women in Los Angeles County. From July 2015 to September 2016, transgender women (N = 271; “egos”) reported their sexual and substance use behaviors and perceptions of the same behaviors among their peers (N = 2,619; “alters”). Clustered logistic and negative binomial regressions were used to model odds of exchange sex and number of exchange sex partners in the past 6 months, respectively. Transgender women who perceived that any of their peers were engaged in exchange sex were approximately four times more likely to exchange sex themselves and reported three times as many exchange sex partners as those who did not perceive any peers engaged in exchange sex. Perceived ecstasy use among peers was associated with higher odds of exchange sex and more exchange sex partners, whereas perceived marijuana use among peers was associated with lower odds of exchange sex and fewer exchange sex partners. Peer behaviors were strongly associated with both transgender women’s likelihood and rate of engagement in exchange sex. Risk reduction interventions with transgender women should attend to network dynamics that are often overlooked in existing programs.

Sexuality and Multiple Sclerosis: Patient and Doctor Perspectives

Little is known on how to address sexuality in clinical care for patients with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). To describe and contrast the perception of sexuality and associated aspects of communication in pwMS and their treating neurologists ("MSologists") and provide a standard of care. Patients were surveyed using a 13-item questionnaire investigating perception on their own sexuality and opinions on communication about sexuality in context with MS. Certified MSologists in Austria received an 18-item survey regarding their approach to taking a sexual history of their patients. We report the frequency of answers given in this survey and propose a possible standard of care how sexuality could be addressed in clinical routine. Ninety-three pwMS (mean age 39 ± 11 years, 57% female) and 75 MSologists (mean age 43 ± 9 years, 63% male) completed this survey. Seventy-six percent of patients report their own sexuality as being (very) important to them and 95% think that sexual dysfunction would influence their quality of life. 84% would like to be asked about their sexuality by their MSologist. In contrast, only 15% of MSologists reported discussing sexuality with every patient. The most common reason for not doing so was a fear of crossing personal borders (34%). There is a strong desire for further medical education on this subject (76%). Discussing sexuality is important to pwMS and MSologists should consider their patients' wishes and needs to talk about it. This is the largest survey contrasting the views of patients and their treating physicians on the topic of communication about sexuality. The use of an empirical unvalidated questionnaire may have introduced bias. Moreover, patients that are open to talk about their sexuality may be potentially overrepresented in this study. MSologists should offer their patients an open opportunity and appropriate framework to discuss their sexuality during a consultation. Altmann P, Leithner K, Leutmezer F, etal. Sexuality and Multiple Sclerosis: Patient and Doctor Perspectives. J Sex Med 2021;18:743-749.

The #MeToo movement in paradise: An assessment of the restaurant industry

ABSTRACT No industry has been immune to the #MeToo movement since its inception. The restaurant industry is especially susceptible to incidents of sexual harassing behaviors due to certain characteristics of the business itself. The purpose of this research paper is to evaluate restaurant employees’ perceptions of sexual harassment and the effects of the #MeToo movement has had on those perceptions. By analyzing the responses of restaurant employees in Hawaii, significant differences in sexual harassment perceptions were found among different groups depending on age, generation and job position. Through quantitative and qualitative examinations, the influence of the #MeToo movement on restaurant employees’ perceptions of sexual harassment is explored. This study will provide timely information when it comes to sexual harassment in the restaurant industry and suggest policies and implications for the field.

Sexual satisfaction of Indonesian women with breast cancer in Central Java, Indonesia

Background: The negative impact of breast cancer diagnosis on the sexuality of women patients is well-known. Sexual dissatisfaction arises from the disruption of physical appearance by the tumor or as a result of both operative or non-operative treatments. This study aimed to describe the perception of sexuality and its quality of breast cancer in Indonesian women.Methods: This descriptive study recruited women diagnosed with breast cancer that have undergone chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, either in singular, combination, or no treatment at all. The sexuality was assessed using the Indonesian version of the Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire (SEXSAT-Q).Results: A total of 113 female breast cancer patients ranging from 20 to 71 years old participated in the study. The majority of respondents were clinically diagnosed with stage II (36.2%) or higher (54.9%). Most patients underwent surgery (91.1%) and chemotherapy (85.8%). Before the diagnosis of cancer, the level of sexual satisfaction was good on average, which remained stagnant for 64 (56.6%) participants during cancer treatment. Significant anxiety and distress were reported by 35 patients (31.0%), depression by 21 patients (18.6%), and tiredness by 48 patients (42.5%).Conclusion: The sexual satisfaction of women with breast cancer patients in our study group is average on general, prior or after cancer diagnosis. However, the treatment's negative psychological impact is quite profound, affecting almost half of the study participants.

Concepts of nymphomania in the German academic psychiatry: Changes over the last two centuries

This chronology aims to provide an overview of the views on nymphomania in the history of German academic psychiatry over the past 200 years. The aim of this study was to answer the following questions: What are the continuities over that period with regard to the etiology, diagnosis, classification or therapeutic recommendations? What changes can be observed? Was the increase in sexual desire in women seen as a disease or rather as a symptom? What significance did psychiatry attribute to female sexuality at a certain point in time? What reasons can be identified for the perceptions made and conclusions drawn at a certain time? A cursory review of the most influential German-language psychiatric textbooks of the respective period was conducted in chronological continuity. Relevant passages were identified, analyzed in detail and compared with each other, taking the historical context into account. At the turn of the 19th and 20th century, a clear break in the understanding of nymphomania as a disease could be observed. In the 19th century, it was seen as a severe mental illness, which was assumed to have been caused at least in part by a peripheral disease of the female reproductive organs and the nervous system associated with them, which could lead to irreversible terminal mental states. In the 20th and 21st centuries, nymphomania was perceived as either a sexual neurosis or a functional sexual disorder, limited to the symptom complex of hypersexuality. The reasons for this were, on the one hand, the overall change in diagnosis resulting from a comprehensive reclassification of mental disorders, which assigned nymphomaniac symptoms of the 19th century to both manic and schizophrenic disorders, and, on the other hand, changes in the perception of female sexuality in the social discourse in general. The fact that nymphomania as a diagnosis was eliminated with the 11th edition of the International Classification of Diseases is a clear expression of this change. The concept of nymphomania has undergone considerable changes over time. At the beginning of the 20th century, the understanding of the disease changed significantly, so that it is even possible to distinguish between an early and a late phase. The diagnosis has meanwhile become obsolete.

Is Aesthetic Evolution Possible in Birds? —Conceptual Considerations

The adaptive mate choice theory is believed to provide a general explanation of sexual selection. Females are thought to choose males based on direct benefits or because they have perceivably good genes based on visual indicators of male quality, involving adaptive qualities acted on by natural selection in the current environment. However, a recent hypothesis, called “Beauty Happens” has been proposed based on Darwin's “Really Dangerous Idea,” an idea that has been criticised, to explain sexual selection in animals, including human beings. Accordingly, it has garnered widespread attention and evoked controversial debate. Here, I review the Beauty Happens hypothesis and clarify the arguments that focus on the sexual autonomy and aesthetic perception of females. I found that, in the case of sexually dimorphic birds, unambiguous evidence is absent in support of the adaptive mate choice theory. Although the Beauty Happens hypothesis is logically feasible, aesthetic perception could possibly evolve and develop on the basis of sexual autonomy and resource-independence in females. Therefore, aesthetic radiation among females may lead to beauty radiation in males, and female mate choice as a selection process may act independently of natural selection, favouring good-to-pass-on genes rather than good genes. However, the Beauty Happens hypothesis seems to be more applicable when explaining the behaviour of sexually dimorphic birds than other animal taxa. I suggest that the mechanisms of female mate choice and intrasexual competition in males may lead to biological evolution, depending on the degree of autonomy of females in different animal species.

Psychometric validation of a patient-reported outcome questionnaire (Qualipsosex) assessing the impact of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis on patient perception of sexuality.

Psoriasis (Pso) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) frequently have a negative impact on patients’ sexual health. We have developed a specific questionnaire assessing the impact of Pso and PsA on patient perception of sexuality: the QualipsoSex Questionnaire (QSQ). The aim of the present study was to further validate this questionnaire by checking its psychometric properties including validity, reliability, and responsiveness.A cross sectional observational study with a longitudinal component for responsiveness and test–retest reliability was performed in 12 centers in France including 7 dermatologists and 5 rheumatologists. Psychometric properties were examined according to the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) check-list.At baseline, 114 patients had Pso and 35 patients had PsA including 17 peripheral arthritis, 4 axial disease, 13 patients with both axial disease and peripheral arthritis and one patient with an undifferentiated phenotype. The mean Pso Area and Severity Index score was 12.5. Genital organs were involved in 44.7% of Pso cases. Internal consistency, construct validity, and reliability were good with Cronbach's α coefficient, measure of sampling adequacy and intraclass correlation coefficient respectively at 0.87, 0.84, and 0.93. The QSQ also demonstrated acceptable sensitivity to change.The QSQ has demonstrated good psychometric properties fulfilling the validation process relative to the recommendations of the COSMIN check list. The QSQ is simple to score and may hopefully be valuable in clinical practice and in clinical trials.

Increasing HIV/AIDS knowledge among urban ethnic minority youth: Findings from a community-based prevention intervention program

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)/AIDs (Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) prevention and research are imperative. Prevention-intervention programming is minimal in low-income communities of color. Additional research is needed that uncovers points of support and prevention to increase HIV knowledge and awareness and limit new HIV infections among adolescents of color. This study presents preliminary findings from a community-based HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, and viral hepatitis (VH) prevention education intervention for ethnic minority youth in a northeastern urban community. We evaluated HIV/AIDS knowledge and factors associated with knowledge. Participants (N = 599) completed a baseline survey followed by an exit survey measuring HIV/AIDS knowledge. Exit survey findings indicated that there was an increase in HIV/AIDs knowledge. Multivariate regression analyses showed that change scores in VH knowledge accuracy, sexual negotiation skills, risk perception, and ethnic identity were positively associated with change in HIV/AIDs knowledge score. The development and implementation of HIV/AIDS knowledge interventions can be crucial in alleviating new infections in the U.S.

THE ELDERLY PERSON:

This article aimed to answer the following research problem: how does the perception of sexuality in the aging process affect the psychosocial well-being of the old person? Thus, the general objective was to analyze how the perception of sexuality in the aging process affects the psychosocial well-being of the old person. The research method of systematic literature review was used, using indicators such as elderly, sexuality, perception, psychosocial and well-being. Google Scholar, Scielo and BDTD were used as a database plataform. We included articles and dissertations dating from 2010 to 2020 that addressed the theme: sexuality of the older person. Forty-three articles were found in which only 5 we used. The article and dissertations presented questions related to the elderly perception about their sexuality, the importance of sexual education and the experience of the well-being of the elderly, also exhibited the experience of some elderly person. Therefore, it is concluded that there is a need for more research aimed at exploring the perception of the elderly about their sexuality and how it affects them. It is expected that this theme can be expanded with research aimed at guiding and expanding knowledge and learning about sexuality in the elderly phase, seeking to highlight the importance of the autonomy of the old person over their choices in face of the possibilities of experiencing their sexuality.

The Importance of Considering Religious and Spiritual Ontologies in the Care of HIV Patients in Zimbabwe - A Scoping Literature Review

Background: HIV continues to have a major impact on morbidity and mortality in Zimbabwe. Religion/Spirituality (R/S) including traditional beliefs and practices (TP) play an important role for most people living with HIV (PLWHIV) in Zimbabwe. PLWHIV conceive and practice healing holistically, embracing not only the physical conditions, but also the spiritual, psycho-emotional, social, and ecological dimensions. Objective: This scoping review aims to systematically map the research done around R/S and TP and HIV in Zimbabwe. It intends to describe what is known about the role and influence of R/S on the experience of living with HIV in Zimbabwe in general and especially, to illustrate the influence of R/S and TP on the physical and psychological wellbeing of PLWHIV, and the access to HIV care. Design: This scoping review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute’s guidelines. The online databases Medline & ATLA were used to identify articles published between 2010–2021 about R/S and TP and HIV in Zimbabwe. The review includes textual papers, qualitative, quantitative, and mixed studies. Results: 638 records were found and screened for inclusion. 46 records were considered relevant for the qualitative and quantitative synthesis. Most articles (27) addressed the influence of traditional beliefs and practices on health and HIV and 16 records examined the influence of religious beliefs and religious groups’ attitude on HIV. The qualitative synthesis illustrates the influence of R/S and TP on physical and psychological wellbeing and on access to HIV care of PLWHIV in Zimbabwe, thus portraying the medical relevance of R/S issues and TP. Further synthesis identified three areas of conflict with biomedical practice: The bio-psycho-socio-spiritual understanding of health and illness, the notion of patriarchy, and the perception of sexuality and procreation. Here religious/spiritual ontologies may lead to compromised biomedical therapy outcomes. Conclusion: This scoping review includes papers of authors from different backgrounds (theology, medicine, sociology). The synthesis of the content of the records revealed a coherent picture of themes addressed and problems identified. Thus, this review is a fair description of the experience of living with HIV in Zimbabwe and the medical relevance of R/S and TP. The findings show that religious/spiritual ontologies need to be considered and integrated into the design of new health programs. It must be the aim to avoid compromised therapy outcome and to further a holistic support of PLWHIV. This is only possible in collaboration with religious stakeholders and traditional practitioners.

The silenced sexuality in dependent older adults.

Sexuality is a silent theme concerning the elderly population who is socially perceived as asexual. This qualitative approach paper is part of research on dependent older adults, which aimed to analyze their sexual experiences. The topic was retrieved from interviews with 26 of them, who talked about sex in their lives. The Thematic content analysis identified two main categories in the statements: gender differences in the treatment of sexuality and difficulty in talking about sex. Differences were observed in the perception and valuation of sexuality by gender. Older men give importance to sexual potency, and older women consider the cessation of sexual life in old age to be natural. Older men enunciate a sexuality concept based on biological satisfaction and sexual act, while women value partnership, affection, and fondness. Researchers were silent on the topic, although it was included in the research manual to guide the interview with older adults. However, while only 26 mentioned the subject, sexuality of older adults is modulated by gender perception. It is a poorly studied and challenging theme to approach in research and healthcare settings.