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There is something queer about Symbolism. Art historians have long acknowledged the links between Symbolist aesthetics and contemporaneous ideas about human sexuality, and even a cursory examination of artworks by male Symbolist artists working across the continent reveals an eyebrow-raising number of muscled nudes, lithe ephebes, and intimate male couplings. The sensual male body could register the artist's erotic desire, even as he put it forth as an idealized emblem of transcendental truth. But perhaps Symbolism's queerness extended beyond subject matter. Scholars have argued that Symbolism was in part defined by a subversive approach to visual semiotics: a severing—we might say a queering—of the ties binding a sign to its established cultural meaning. Similarly, male homosexual subcultures were sustained by endowing established signs and pictures with a uniquely queer significance. This paper seeks to tease out the relationship between Symbolist aesthetics and male homosexuality in terms of a shared sensibility towards pictorial interpretation. Taking as a case study the work of the Swedish Symbolist artist Eugène Jansson, I argue that Symbolism held appeal for homosexual artists precisely because queer subcultures were primed to read subversive meaning into normative pictures. Offering a new reading of Symbolism's sexual valences, I contextualize the movement's attendant artworks within the broader cultural landscape of homosexual signs and symbols and articulate the parallels between Symbolist approaches to the image and queer modes of seeing in the late nineteenth century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cervical mullerian adenosarcoma is a rare uterine sarcoma, especially in young women. Its pathological features are low-grade malignant tumors with bidirectional differentiation, and the degree of malignancy is similar to that of low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma. This paper reports the case of a young asexual patient who has been closely followed up after tumor resection and has not had any recurrences. Case presentation: A 20-year-old, young asexual woman was diagnosed with cervical mullerian adenosarcoma with sarcomatous overgrowth (MASO). Cervical tumor resection was performed after admission, and the resection margin was negative. After the operation, she refused to undergo secondary surgery due to fertility requirements and did not receive adjuvant treatment. The patient was closely followed up after the operation and has not yet relapsed. Conclusion: A young woman with cervical MASO did not receive adjuvant treatment after cervical tumor resection. For women with fertility requirements, close follow-ups should be conducted after the operation to guard against tumor recurrence and radical tumor resection should be performed as early as possible after the patient no longer requires their fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the various labels ascribed to males in the heterosexual discourse among female undergraduates in Nigeria. Insights from Community of Practice and Sexual Script Theory were used to demonstrate the use of situated linguistic choices to establish the differentials in male sexual behaviours. Data for the study were generated through participant observation and unstructured interviews with the aid of audiotape recordings and field notes. The study involves a representative sample of 22 female undergraduates who served as participants and research assistants. The findings reveal that situated language practices stimulate heterosexual discourses where female undergraduates creatively ascribe labels to the different males' sexual scripts. The labels include those related to male sexual performance, body size and size of sex organs, financial and marital status, familial and gatekeeping roles, and other routine sexual behaviours shown by men in sexual phases such as advances, arousal and intercourse. The scripts are also combined to re-enact the peculiar sexual narratives by the female students that show emerging sexual orientations. It is believed that the categorisation of such males' sexual behaviours in the University social contexts, would provide a basis for comparison with the sexual practices of other young adults' social groups across the globe. The paper discusses the various strands of sexual scripts shown by men in their heterosexual relationships with female undergraduates in a Nigerian University. The students ascribed labels based on the sexual performance, economic and marital status, and other routine behaviours that have an impact on the male sexual lifestyle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the UK a polarised and politicised discourse exists that attempts to pitch transgender identities in opposition to discourses on sexual orientations. This suggests that interventions assisting clients in their understanding of one, would be detrimental on exploration of the other i.e., to be affirming of gender identity is to cause conversion of sexuality and vice versa. This paper attempts to address some of the problems with this oppositional critique and solve some of the practical problems that the theorist and/or clinician may encounter while attempting to help their clients within the realm of psychological therapies. It does so through Deleuzian ontologies of difference, coupled with Bhaskarian critical realism. We aim to present a (re)consideration of the biopsychosocial model of Health. The recent publication of the International Classification of Diseases 11th Edition and its reclassification of trans aetiology as a Disorder of Sexual Development has presented a conceptual shift from gender dysphoria towards a gender incongruence model (WHO 2022). The aim of this article therefore is to develop practice by enhancing the conceptual toolbox of the clinician and therapist working with Gender Sex and Relationship Diversities (GSRD). Thereby enabling them to better approach a wider diversity of clients safely. This paper explores current conversations and ideas around the phenomenon of trans gender identities and minority orientations. It aims to present an ethical model which can inform the clinical practice of therapists and is underpinned by a critical realist interpretation of biological, psychological and sociological aspects of the mind and body. Overall, the paper acts as a call to action against conversion practices which aim to position trans experience and sexual attraction in opposition to each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers the political potential that emerges when theorizations of the body-as-infrastructure are brought into conversation with theorizations of topological space. It argues that the infrastructural body provides an interface through which structural norms can be destabilized, and the interrelationships between the state, society, and self can be reimagined. These ideas are illustrated through an empirical exploration of drag queens in Singapore. Singapore is a socially conservative Asian city-state in which heteronormative values are passed down by the state, reproduced through the family, and then used to structure societal understandings of gender and sexuality. By interpreting Singapore's hegemonic state-society spaces in topological terms, drag queens reveal a modality of queerness that is not necessarily deviant, or apart-from, the country's non-queer public spaces, but is mutually constitutive of them instead. Through (infra)structuralization, the drag body reveals a potentiality that transcends the strictures of everyday life. Accordingly, the paper advances the politico-theoretical promise of 'Queer Asia'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addressing sexting in sexual health education classrooms is one way of supporting young people to become good sexual citizens and to emphasise respect and consent in their sexual practices and in their lives. While a fair amount of research has worked with youth to understand their motivations for sexting, less research has been conducted with in-service teachers to understand their perspectives, pedagogical approaches, and beliefs regarding young people and sexting. Set in this context, this paper discusses findings from interviews with Canadian teachers who were teaching a new Ontario Health and Physical Education curriculum that included discussions of sexting. Our findings suggest that many teachers are still engaging discourses of risk, shame and blame when they talk to their students about sexting. Likewise, longstanding gender norms and stereotypical sexual scripts are evident in the ways in which many teachers both understand and teach sexting. Some teachers, however, are engaging in more promising pedagogical practices that frame sexting as having a range of uses, outcomes, and purposes, painting a more holistic picture of young people's sexting landscapes. Findings from this paper may be useful for educators and policymakers creating sexting curriculum for young people in educational settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper takes the position that the discourses of science and morality are not distinct within biology education; rather, they inform each other to produce, discipline, and regulate human sexuality. Our analysis of the medical and moral discussion on sexuality in a secondary school science textbook (the 12th standard National Council for Educational Research and Training textbook), along with insights from interviews with teachers, reveals that the texts portray a romanticized notion of sex that is limited to a monogamous heterosexual relationship. In the first part of the paper, we analyze how the biology textbook discusses "safer sex" in the limited context of sexually transmitted diseases and how scientific knowledge produces specific sexual subjectivities and categories. In our view, the portrayal of "normal sex" in the textbook is valueladen and not inconsequential. We also examine the discursive devices employed by the textbook to assert what is considered "culturally appropriate." The second part of the paper focuses on interviews with three biology teachers from Keralam, India. Discourse analysis is used as a methodology to explore how teachers occasionally use scientific and moral arguments interchangeably. We discuss some examples where teachers use cultural and moral ideals to justify the scientific claims in the textbook. For instance, when the textbook focuses on how "promiscuity" produces disease, teachers emphasize how promiscuity can lead to sexual anarchy, fatherless children, unsatisfied spouses, and broken relations. We argue that the teachers, along with the textbook, intertwine scientific facts with moral sensibilities, articulating a view of science, technology, and medicine that aligns with socio-cultural norms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper begins by introducing the Special Issue of the Journal of Language and Sexuality. Then the paper shifts focus, to consider concerns that have shaped studies of language and sexuality over the past ten years and are shaping these studies' immediate and emerging interests. The paper also considers how the Journal could support these interests in language and sexuality oriented in terms of a "mesh of possibilities ..." (Sedgwick 1993: 8) rather than psychosocial processes, masculine/feminine binaries, or hetero/homosexual hierarchies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the article, the author discusses the assessment of evidential value in sex research. Also cited are the disadvantages of using single-study papers in research like they maximize the danger of false positives and they undermine the critical test of theoretical and conceptual patterns, as well as the dangers of false positive psychology in psychological science.

This client, who men seem to find attractive, and who considers she is good at sex texting and doing it "as on the porn sites" longs to be able to marry sex and intimacy. What then are our views on, for example, in the U.K. the growing trend of popular BBC television series as I Strictly Come Dancing i with its "Strictly curse" of evolving sexual relations or I Wanderlust i "s explorations of polygamy? The following paper 'Conversations outside the walls of the city: techniques, erotic love and the wings of desire in Phaedrus and psychotherapy' is by Onel Brooks. [Extracted from the article]

The promotion and enabling of vulnerable and long‐stay inpatients' sexualities is a largely neglected practice. This paper offers a novel contribution to the existing literature by considering the assessment of capacity to use sex toys. It describes the development of a set of guidelines and application of these in two clinical cases. It is hoped that the paper will provide a start point from which the guidelines could be scrutinised and refined by professional bodies and legal review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information about several conferences in the U.S. for 2007 and 2008 including the Second Annual Feminist Pedagogy Conference will be held on October 12 in New York City, and the "How Class Works-2008," on June 5 to 7.

Copyright of Zeitschrift für Sexualforschung is the property of Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A call for papers related to sexual desires of people with disabilities is presented.

The article presents a discussion of Ian Parker II's paper about staff-student relationships in universities. The author reflects that Parker's paper raises the major question about the nature of power, power of sexuality, and the nature of knowledge. He opines that the failure of boundaries between students and staff is associated to the change of link from the 'K' as recognized by Bion, to another link designated as 'minus K.' He further explains that the idea is sliding into another kind of link, Bion's 'minus L.' He argues that Dr. Parker has provided descriptions of these happenings but with evidence that is difficult to grasp.

The internet-based sexual studies are becoming more and more popular. This study offers a comparison of internet-based survey and paper-based survey on sexual activities of adult Poles thus contributing to the international discussion about biases in internet-based samples. Objectives: [•] to compare results of internet-based and paper-based surveys on sexual life styles in Poland [•] to investigate attitudes to various forms of sexual expression and sexually related issues. Design and Method: A questionnaire containing 136 items was developed and validated by the authors and was made available to volunteers either online or in paper form. The online questionnaire was administered through a university website to volunteers recruited online through search engines or e-mailing lists. The paper version was distributed among volunteer students of two large cosmopolitan universities and among employees of six randomly selected companies in western Poland. Results: There were 691 responses with 46.4% males and 53.6% females (internet ample) and 48.3% males and 51.7% females (paper-based sample). [•] Both samples consisted mostly of young (aged 22-28), well educated and living in big cities people. [•] Higher percentage of people identified themselves as attracted to the same sex or both sexes in web-based survey (12%) than paper-based sample (6%) [•] There was no significant difference in reference to oral and anal sex, casual sex, sex for money. Conclusions: [•] There were many similarities in sexual biography and current sexual behaviour between internet-based and paper-based samples. [•] The internet-based and paper-based samples presented similar behavioural characteristics toward different sexual activities [•] However, this Internet sample revealed more permissive attitudes toward different sexually related issues than the paper-based sample. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Culture, Health & Sexuality is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article reads contemporary Chinese children's author Yin Jianling's novels The Paper Puppy (Zhiren) and Orange Fish (Juzi Yu) alongside her letter collection Fifteen Letters to Girls (Zhi Weilai de Ni) to explore the overarching themes of femininity, difference and female sexualities. The Paper Puppy weaves homoeroticism, heterosexuality, pre-marital sex and teenage pregnancy into one single novel. Homoeroticism, linked with the curiosity for the changing adolescent female body, marks the end of sexual innocence and the beginning of sexual awakening for protagonist Su, which is entwined intricately with the adolescent girl's physical, emotional and psychological maturation. In contrast, heterosexuality is portrayed in both novels as a deviant and potentially perilous site for adolescent girls. Fraught with the attendant risks of pregnancy, abortion and even suicide, adolescent heterosexual relationships are to be cautioned against. The analysis suggests that despite her self-proclaimed re-traditionalisation and anti-feminist stance in the letters, the sexual discourses in Yin's novels are much more subtle and complex, saturated with feminist and queer overtones. Significantly, in the development of adolescent female sexualities, whether homoerotic or heterosexual, the role of motherhood and adult mentorship is highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the author invites readers to submit articles on various topics including gendered experiences, sexual behaviors and porn use.

This paper contributes to the panoply of theological discourses in Africa that seek to identify the role and the place of Black theology in post‐apartheid South Africa and the broader context of postcolonial Africa. This task is premised on two assertions. First is the argument of Alistair Kee that Black theology would have become redundant with the end of apartheid if racism remained its only subject of critical analysis. Second, Kee's assertion corroborates Allan Boesak's observation that beyond its goal to support the end of apartheid, Black theology is an ongoing discourse to rediscover and reclaim human dignity and identity. These two arguments underscore the need for a reassessment of South African Black theologies, redefining this theology's foundational ideals and casting new visions for emerging theological concerns today, including for the wider African context. The paper therefore explores the intersecting identities of "black, queer, and Christian" as an imperative for Black theologies' discourses in Africa today. Using a queer Black consciousness as a theoretical lens, these identities are examined through the eucharistic ritual of an LGBT church in Kenya where the phrase "this is my body," on the institution of the eucharistic meal in the gospels, has become concretized and performed as a liberative praxis for people who identify as LGBT. As such, it is argued that the eucharistic ritual becomes a symbol, an art, and an act of resistance in Africa, where LGBT people continue to assert and affirm their identity and dignity of blackness, queerness, and faith (Christian). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the association between the gender rules operating within schools, harmful sexual behaviour (HSB) between pupils and the ways safety is created in these spaces. The ability and responsibility of school institutions to inform gender rules within schools is of particular focus. The paper draws on data from a mixed-methods study exploring HSB in seven secondary schools in England. Findings indicate that gendered rules not only play a role in explaining HSB in schools, they also inform discourses of safety and influence pupils' attempts to subvert gendered harm. Drawing on research on local space, it is suggested that school institutions can work to maintain or challenge the gendered rules between pupils, and subsequently, limit or provide effective options to create pupil safety. The paper argues that schools have a responsibility to construct safe spaces for pupils by challenging harmful gender norms and behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent discussions of humanitarian intervention in international relations (IR) have often focused on the evolution of norms, and the development and contestation of the responsibility to protect (R2P) framework. While beneficial in tracing this process, most of these studies tend not to incorporate an analysis of colonialism, race, sexuality, or gender. While postcolonial studies of humanitarian intervention have done well to illustrate the relationship between humanitarian intervention and colonial violence, they still tend to neglect the study of sexuality and gender. Exploring how the sexualized, gendered, and racialized dimensions of colonialism can be incorporated into the study of humanitarian intervention, this paper proposes a queer approach. After exploring the valuable contributions of feminist scholarship, it suggests that the queer approaches of Nicola Pratt ("The Queen Boat Case in Egypt: Sexuality, National Security and State Sovereignty," Review of International Studies 33, no. 1 [2007]: 129–44), Cynthia Weber (Queer International Relations: Sovereignty, Sexuality and the Will to Knowledge. New York, Oxford University Press, 2016), and Laura Shepherd and Laura Sjoberg ("Trans- Bodies in/of War(s): Cisprivilege and Contemporary Security Strategy," Feminist Review 101, no. 1 [2012]: 5–23) offer some distinct contributions that build upon feminist insights. Applying these to the 2015 House of Commons debate on airstrikes against ISIL, the paper suggests that queer IR can invigorate the study of humanitarian intervention with a framework that unpacks the simultaneously gendered, sexual, and racial dimensions of colonial violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper develops and applies the emergent concept of institutional transphobia to explore the barriers to transgender research in early years education. It argues that institutional processes embed and disguise the logic of transphobia by drawing on dominant, taken-for-granted claims of the inappropriateness or irrelevance of gender-focused education interventions that challenge cis-normativity and heteronormativity. Drawing on the barriers and difficulties experienced through a PhD journey, the paper explores how institutional transphobia was evident in the seemingly neutral reasons for denying site access and ethics approvals, divergent institutional ethics requirements, the tensions between individual support and institutional processes, and the expectations on research higher degree students. The paper concludes that current processes and priorities must be challenged and replaced with an institutional mandate that explicitly values and welcomes transgender research as a priority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A call for papers on intellectual disability and sexuality is presented.

The article invites papers related to feminism, sex and the body for the special issue for 2011 of the periodical.

The article presents a call for papers on sexual and reproductive health after adolescence for a special issue of "Perspectives on Sexual & Reproductive Health."

Common strategies employed in preventing STI/AIDS transmission among young adults in America include abstinence, monogamy and safer sex. These strategies require a high level of vigilance and responsibility and, according to inner city participants in Project PHRESH.comm, neither option is always desirable, available, or rational in the context of their lived experiences. This article reports findings from Project PHRESH.comm, a mixed-method, ethnographic study incorporating data from focus group discussions, semi-structured interviews, coital diaries, systematic cultural assessments and a structured survey designed to explore concepts of risk and decision making about condom use among at risk African American and Puerto Rican young adults aged 18-25 years in Hartford, CT. We found that many young adults from our study population rely on a strategy of using clinic-sponsored STI/AIDS screening when wanting to discontinue condom use with a partner. While our data suggest that screening is a common strategy used by many couples to transition to having sex without a condom, the data also show that most youth do not maintain monogamy even in long-term, serious relationships. Thus, sharing test results may provide a false sense of security in the sexual culture of inner city, minority youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People with intellectual disabilities (PID) experience the same range of sexual thoughts, feelings, desires, and activities as anyone else. However, the public's view, especially about stereotypes, is noticeable to have an impact on sexuality and people with disabilities, thereby influencing the population which includes the families of PID, healthcare professionals, and policymakers. This review aims to analyze the opinions of public, family of PID or care staff on the sexuality of PID and the methodology applied. Eleven quantitative peer-reviewed papers were identified. Participants' attitude could be evaluated as a binary classification of either "Restrictive" or "Acceptance" in four aspects. Demographic background and the conditions of the PID were found to have an influence on people's attitudes. People acknowledge that PID are not asexual but generally the public holds a more accepting attitude towards the sexuality of PID when compare with family of PID or care staff. Further research on this attitude gap is particularly essential, as this will contribute valuable information and provide insight to policymakers on handling the social, legal and ethical concerns about the sexuality of PID. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a discussion of Ian Parker II's paper about staff-student relationships in universities. The author reflects that Parker's idea is a bold attempt to understand the group and individual processes involved in the social issue of power and sex relations in the academia. He opines that in order to understand these issues and the matrix in which they occur, the subject matter must be analyzed on historical context. He discusses the development of the issues of power, knowledge and sex during the period of 'Enlightenment,' and during the later half of the 20th century.

Introduction: This paper explores older adults' perceptions on sexuality and affectivity in Chile, according to class and sex. Methods: The study is based on computer-assisted telephonic interviews with people aged 60 and over, men and women (n = 481). Data were analyzed using chi-squared tests and binary logistic regressions. Results and discussion: Maintaining an active sex life is important for older adults of both sexes, contradicting the commonsense view according to which the relevance allocated to sex decreases significantly with age. However, the data show significant differences in perceptions by sex, suggesting that gendered conceptions regarding sexuality are influential along the entire life cycle. There are also relevant differences according to class, revealing the inequalities present in the expression of sexuality in Chile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the findings of a project that conducted a rapid review of evidence regarding assessment and intervention approaches responding to children and young people who engage in harmful sexual behaviors. A literature review was conducted using a systematic search of academic databases and consultation with subject matter experts. The process resulted in 27 scholarly publications being included and analyzed to explore what was known about effective approaches with children and young people who have engaged in harmful sexual behavior. The review found that the current state of knowledge was limited, with few of the included papers reporting research outcomes. In the absence of a sound evidence base, additional theoretical literature and expert commentary have been drawn upon to better understand issues in this complex practice area. A key finding of this review was that growing awareness that children and young people who engage in harmful sexual behaviors are, first and foremost, children. They should not be regarded as soon-to-be-adults who are engaging in adult offending. This shift in thinking informs contemporary assessment and intervention approaches, challenging those models that previously focused on measuring risk using forensic approaches to predict the likelihood of future offending. A critical failure to understand the needs of specific cohorts of children and young people was also evident. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The objective of this article is to analyse the determinants of risky behaviour of school children and their impact on early sexual initiation, considering differences between sexes. Methods: The paper analyses the results of the HBSC international study conducted in Slovakia in 2018. A total of 1,293 schoolchildren (81.8% response rate) participated in the study. 15-year-old adolescents were assessed. Differences between boys and girls were also analysed. Results: In the 2018 data collection, the occurrence of underage sexual intercourse was more common among boys (17%) than girls (11.3%). Overall, 94.3% of children reported not having smoked and not having had an early sexual experience. Conversely, 26.1% of the children who admitted having smoked, had had sex. As for alcohol consumption, 19.2% of the pupils who had drunk alcohol reported early sexual initiation but, in a statistically significant indicator, up to 34.1% of adolescents who had had sexual intercourse were in a state of drunkenness at the time. Conclusion: To some extent, experimentation and risky behaviours in adolescence are socially acceptable. However, the timing of adolescents' first sexual intercourse can have an impact on their health and mental well-being. There is a need to recognise and monitor possible determinants that may lead to their risky sexual activities. There is also a clear and pressing need for legislative standards. Paediatric care and nursing play a vital role in the primary prevention of risk activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation is part of the Social Networks and Agency Project (SNAP), an 18-month longitudinal mixed methods study following adolescents located in New South Wales, Australia. The SNAP study aims to understand how online and offline social networks impact the development of sexual agency over time. This paper presents an analysis of the second interview time point in the SNAP study. Fifty adolescents (aged 14–17) completed a semi-structured interview either face-to-face or via Skype about their romantic relationships, including where they get their sexual health information and how they flirt (both online and offline). Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using a grounded theory approach. The core theme was: Young people clearly demonstrate emerging sexual agency. The three characterizing themes were: (1) Young people have complex schemas about flirting, dating, and entering romantic and sexual relationships; (2) Young people have high literacy in social media, traditional media and pornography; and (3) Peers influence most aspects of developing sexual agency, including sex and relationship attitudes. We discuss possible methods to utilize adolescents' social networks in facilitating the development of sexual agency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article delves into the nature of suffering as experienced by Mahar women struggling with the implemented difficulties by the prevailing patriarchal ideology rooted in Brahminism. Baby Kamble dislikes the humanitarian aversion to agony and disparity. She is sensitive to the predicament of Dalit women and conscious of their sufferings. She has managed to dredge into the psyche of Mahar women, prioritizing sisterhood and Dalit femininity over individual suffering. As a woman writer, Kamble concedes that her primary task is to promote women's emancipation and eradicate untouchability. She propitiously manages to portray Mahar women and their wounded selves. Utilizing Paik's theory of Incremental Intersecting Technologies about caste, class, gender, sexuality, and agency as the framework, the paper seeks to answer the questions: How much consideration is given to the caste system, and what intersectional aspects have been integrated into discussions about Dalit women in the last twenty years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Secure children's homes (SCHs) restrict the liberty of young people considered to be a danger to themselves or others. However, not all young people referred to SCHs find a placement, and little is known about the outcomes of the young person after an SCH or alternative placement. The purpose of this paper is to understand which characteristics most likely predict allocation to an SCH placement, and to explore the outcomes of the young people in the year after referral. Design/methodology/approach: A retrospective electronic cohort study was conducted using linked social care data sets in England. The study population was all young people from England referred to SCHs for welfare reasons between 1st October 2016 to 31st March 2018 (n = 527). Logistic regression tested for differences in characteristics of SCH placement allocation and outcomes in the year after referral. Findings: In total, 60% of young people referred to an SCH were allocated a place. Factors predicting successful or unsuccessful SCH allocation were previous placement in an SCH (OR = 2.12, p = 0.01); being female (OR = 2.26, p = 0.001); older age (OR = 0.75, p = 0.001); and a history of challenging behaviour (OR = 0.34, p = 0.01). In the year after referral, there were little differences in outcomes between young people placed in a SCH versus alternative accommodation. Originality/value: The study raised concerns about the capacity of current services to recognise and meet the needs of this complex and vulnerable group of young people and highlights the necessity to explore and evaluate alternatives to SCHs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Observational data suggest lower HIV risk with norethisterone enanthate (NET-EN) than with depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate intramuscular (DMPA-IM) injectable contraceptives. If confirmed, a switch between these similar injectable methods would be programmatically feasible and could impact the trajectory of the HIV epidemic. We aimed in this paper to investigate the effects of DMPA-IM and NET-EN on estradiol levels, measures of depression and sexual activity and menstrual effects, relevant to HIV risk; and to ascertain whether these measures are associated with estradiol levels. Methods: This open-label trial conducted at two sites in South Africa from 5 November 2018 to 30 November 2019, randomized HIV-negative women aged 18–40 to DMPA-IM 150 mg intramuscular 12-weekly (n = 262) or NET-EN 200 mg intramuscular 8-weekly (n = 259). Data were collected on hormonal, behavioral and menstrual effects at baseline and at 25 weeks (25W). Results: At 25W, median 17β estradiol levels were substantially lower than at baseline (p<0.001) for both methods: 76.5 pmol/L (interquartile range (IQR) 54.1 to 104.2) in the DMPA-IM group (n = 222), and 69.8 pmol/L (IQR: 55.1 to 89.3) in the NET-EN group (n = 225), with no statistical difference between the two methods (p = 0.450). Compared with DMPA-IM, NET-EN users reported significantly less amenorrhoea, fewer sexual acts, fewer users reporting at least one act of unprotected sex, more condom use with steady partner, more days with urge for sexual intercourse, more days feeling partner does not love her, and more days feeling sad for no reason. We did not find a clear association between estradiol levels and sexual behavior, depression and menstrual effects. Behavioral outcomes suggest less sexual exposure with NET-EN than DMPA-IM. The strength of this evidence is high due to the randomized study design and the consistency of results across the outcomes measured. Conclusions: Estradiol levels were reduced to postmenopausal levels by both methods. Secondary outcomes suggesting less sexual exposure with NET-EN are consistent with reported observational evidence of less HIV risk with NET-EN. A randomized trial powered for HIV acquisition is feasible and needed to answer this important question. Trial registration: PACTR 202009758229976. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents findings from a literature review on relationships and sexuality education for primary (elementary) school programme effectiveness. Using a theory-generating approach informed by realist evaluation, the review takes a deep dive into the literature to identify contexts, mechanisms and outcomes likely to influence the effectiveness of programmes. This paper will be of interest to researchers, evaluators, RSE programme designers and practitioners as findings provide a catalogue of factors (variables) that can be considered for application in future programme evaluations and for inclusion in programme logic models. It identifies areas of opportunity to incorporate children's voices into research and points to the need for longitudinal studies to address the context- and time-sensitive nature of relationships and sexuality education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inspired by new feminist materialism, this paper seeks to reimagine existing knowledge of girls, sexuality and playgrounds by considering how the socio‐material reality may unlock girls' capacities for what is possible through play. Focusing on semi‐structured interviews of girls (aged 12–13), the paper draws attention to the playground as an 'assemblage' of human and non‐human matter that connect to illuminate other ways of being, feeling and doing. We argue that the assemblage not only creates spaces for girls to disrupt hetero‐patriarchal ideologies but simultaneously serves to reinforce them. Interventions require attention to the oppressive materialities that underpin play. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many African states including South Africa practice cultural activities including Male Circumcision (MC) to instil principles in young boys. MC is regarded as the transition from boy to manhood. However, this practice has been associated with many forbidden activities such as risky sexual behaviours, and drug abuse as compared to the previous years. This forbidden activity has many debates about the relevance of MC in current generation. This study sought to explore the relevance of male circumcision in Xhosa tribe in the 21st century. The qualitative research approach, through unstructured interviews, was employed in the paper and the participants were approached purposely. The collected data was analysed using a thematic approach. The findings revealed that MC is relevant for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases such as STIs or HIV and the enhancement of sexual pleasure, however, the study also found that the tradition is relevant for preserving the Xhosa cultural customs, instilling good principles and ensuring human dignity. It further states that MC is irrelevant in the 21st century as it no longer serves its initial purpose and there are now more safer health practices for circumcision. The study thus recommended that the tradition must be preserved but subjected to health regulations. The MC needs to ensure that it suits the environment, is done by experienced people and it must not be compulsory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unwanted pregnancies are considered a public health problem that affects women's mental health and quality of life. The aim of this paper was to access university students' understanding and behaviours regarding unwanted pregnancies and identify their needs to prevent them. Qualitative descriptive design was used, and 13 semi-structured interviews were carried out. Women between 18 and 20 years old participated. They discussed a lack of training for themselves, their partners, and their families, their desire to have access to non-in-person health care resources, and their belief that contraception was expensive. Emotional aspects were relevant, affecting the way communication is established with those close to them and with health professionals. Despite the existence of access to sexual health resources, the findings show the existence of needs related to the prevention of unwanted pregnancies. The findings are presented grouping the main identified needs as "related to capability", "related to opportunity", and "related to motivation". Among the aspects to consider when designing interventions to prevent unwanted pregnancies are the feelings shown by these women, the inclusion of couples and family members in educational programs, and access to non-face-to-face health resources and less expensive contraceptive methods. Interventions for social support and understanding of women are necessary both to prevent unwanted pregnancies and to support adolescents with unwanted pregnancies by avoiding criminalization or blame. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last two decades there has been an increase in the use of participatory and emancipatory methodologies within disability research; centring the lived experience of disabled people. This paper explores some of the ethical and practical considerations when researching in the area of disabled women and sexuality, highlighting the pervasiveness of ableist attitudes and processes. Drawing on critical disability studies and utilising critical reflexivity, the researcher, a disabled woman, discusses some of the strengths and limitations of being an 'insider-outsider' researcher. The paper also presents some strategies and considerations for researchers who seek to use inclusive methods in research with and by disabled people, including the importance of language and multi-methods to facilitate and promote access and expression. If research is to be a true reflection of the community being researched, then it is vital inclusive principles are incorporated into all stages of research projects. There has been an increase in research that includes disabled people in all stages of the research process. This paper discusses some of the ways the researcher, a disabled woman, used inclusive research methods throughout her study focused on disabled women's experiences of sex education, sexual expression and violence. The paper considers some of the strengths and challenges of insider research, and outlines ways to promote access and expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most people believe that they are adequately aware of sex and its etiquette and hence, they don’t need any education to improve their sexual knowledge. However, relevant issues that are often treatable, like sexual diseases or dissatisfaction, have made physicians write or translate various manuscripts and books to improve public knowledge of sex. The medical manuscript “Lazzat Un Nisaʼ” is an example of such an educational resource. In this paper, the miniatures of the manuscript and their relationship with the text are analyzed. The purpose is to determine the method employed in this visual narrative. The results indicate that the Miniaturist has not resorted to the erotic art; he, rather based his illustration on a lyrical-realistic method. This illustration refers to the effects of sexual knowledge on the success of married life, the intimacy between man and woman, and the satisfaction of their relationship. Accordingly, he has used intelligently visual techniques to picture people, especially women, in the most physical and mental health. He aims to evoke such effects by visual narrative in the miniatures and present the content of the medical text in the manuscript attractively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses various reports within the issue, including one by Wilson and Plummer on the challenges that men with intellectual and developmental disabilities face regarding masculinity, one by Williams et al. on sexual health services that are available to youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities and one by Frawley and Bigby on peer education among people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a promising biomedical HIV prevention intervention and is considered an integral component of HIV prevention efforts globally. With proper adherence, PrEP has shown great effectiveness among at-risk populations (e.g., men who have sex with men), but multiple barriers to widespread uptake exist. In this paper, we use nationally-representative data to examine predictors of one of the primary barriers to PrEP uptake: awareness. We adopt an intersectional approach to examine how intersections of gender, race/ethnicity, and sexual identity predict awareness of PrEP and affect the role of patient-provider discussions in promoting PrEP awareness. We find support for the idea that information about PrEP is not reaching all at-risk groups, even when patients have discussions about sexual orientation and/or sexual behavior with medical care providers. Comparisons of predicted probabilities also suggest that intersections of gender, race/ethnicity, and sexual identity appear to exacerbate differences in the effects of patientprovider communications in promoting PrEP awareness. Findings from this paper shed light on the need for inclusive messaging surrounding PrEP and improved HIV prevention education efforts across diverse communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]