290835
‘the stigma of masculinity:' sex, HIV and relationships among female partners of bisexual men
Results: HIV+ and HIV- women described a range of sexual relationship types with bisexually active men. Most women learned of their partner's bisexual activity through friends, and described wanting support in talking about their partner's sexuality. Some relationships continued after disclosure. Several women had concurrent sexual relationships they did not disclose, and some HIV+ women had not disclosed their HIV status to partners. Women described their own and societal homophobia and biphobia, and the stigma of masculinity faced by men.
Conclusions: Women partnered with bisexually active Black men described their own agency in complex relationship configurations involving non-disclosure and concurrent partnerships. Women wanted men to be “man enough” while also voicing understandings of cultural norms of masculinity underlying men's sexual relationships.
Public health or related public policy
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Analyze the experiences of HIV+ and HIV- women who have been partnered with bisexually active Black men
Identify the social and cultural factors underlying sexual relationships of women partnered with bisexually active Black men
Describe the influence of cultural ideologies of gender, including masculinity, on the sexual relationships and HIV risk of women partnered with bisexual men
Discuss implications of these findings for HIV prevention interventions for women and men
Keywords: Women and HIV/AIDS, Sexuality
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am Principal Investigator on this NIH award.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.