Friends, the Internet, Porn, and Sexual Partners: A Qualitative Content Analysis of the Ways That Gay Men Learned About Sex.
Sexual education in the United States is rich and complex, yet it has centered heterosexual sexual practices with parents and schools playing a critical, and often judgmental role. This study aimed to explore the different ways that gay men learned about their sexual orientation and sexual behaviors...
| Published in: | Journal of Men's Studies Vol. 34; no. 3; pp. 549 - 578 |
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
| Format: | Article |
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Sage Publications Inc.
Oct2026
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | View this record in EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ssf&AN=196884945&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: ssf uiTerm: 196884945 longDbName: Social Sciences Full Text (H.W. Wilson) uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: jinfo: jid: 10608265 1YY jtl: Journal of Men's Studies issn: 10608265 maglogo: N pubinfo: dt: Oct2026 vid: 34 iid: 3 pid: 344 pub: Sage Publications Inc. artinfo: ui: 196884945 10.1177/10608265261427183 ppf: 549 ppct: 29 formats: tig: atl: Friends, the Internet, Porn, and Sexual Partners: A Qualitative Content Analysis of the Ways That Gay Men Learned About Sex. aug: au: Allen, Junior Lloyd Yett, AeYanna Saxon, Shani Houston, Keshaum M Mitchell, Micah Tarrh, Colby Boyd, Donte T. Williams, Antonio T. Quinn, Camille R. affil: School of Social Work, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD, USA School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA School of Social Work, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA College of Social Work, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA School of Community Health and Policy, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD, USA School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA su: Sexual orientation Internet access Pornography Sex education Peer communication Teaching methods Gay men Thematic analysis sug: subj: Sexual orientation Internet access Pornography Sex education Peer communication Teaching methods Gay men Thematic analysis keyword: friends inductive qualitative content analysis internet porn sex partners friends inductive qualitative content analysis internet porn sex partners ab: Sexual education in the United States is rich and complex, yet it has centered heterosexual sexual practices with parents and schools playing a critical, and often judgmental role. This study aimed to explore the different ways that gay men learned about their sexual orientation and sexual behaviors, outside the traditional mechanisms. Data from N = 19 one-on-one interviews were analyzed using the iterative procedures associated with inductive qualitative content analysis. Findings showed the use of four major (discussions with friends, internet use, viewing pornography, and conversations with sexual partners), and four minor (viewing media, talking to professionals, discussions with trusted family members, and conversations with social acquaintances) learning mechanisms that helped them learn in detail about their sexual orientation, and sexual behaviors. These mechanisms occurred in two frameworks (in-person and digital media). Ultimately, these avenues facilitated opportunities for open, honest, uninhibited, and judgement free discussions and learning about sexual orientation and sexual behaviors. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: Article src: R language: English refInfo: copyright: @attributes: flag: N holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
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