No / Objectives: High prevalence of bacterial vaginosis (BV) has been reported in lesbians but most studies were based in sexually transmitted infection clinic settings; therefore, we wished to determine the prevalence and risk factors of BV in lesbians and heterosexual women in a community setting in the UK. Methods: A cross-sectional study recruiting lesbian women volunteers from community groups, events, clubs and bars. Heterosexual women were recruited from a community family planning clinic. They self-swabbed to create a vaginal smear, which was Gram-stained and categorised as BV, intermediate or normal flora. They completed a questionnaire about age, ethnic group, smoking, genital hygiene practices and sexual history. Results: Of 189 heterosexuals and 171 lesbians recruited, 354 had gradeable flora. BV was identified in 43 (25.7%) lesbians and 27 (14.4%) heterosexuals (adjusted OR 2.45, 95% CI 1.25 to 4.82; p¿=¿0.009). Concordance of vaginal flora within lesbian partnerships was significantly greater than expected (27/31 (87%) couples, ¿¿=¿0.63; p<0.001). Smoking significantly increased the risk of BV regardless of sexuality (adjusted OR 2.65; p¿=¿0.001) and showed substantial concordance in lesbian partnerships but less than for concordance of flora. Conclusions: Women who identified as lesbians have a 2.5-fold increased likelihood of BV compared with heterosexual women. The prevalence is slightly lower than clinic-based studies and as volunteers were recruited in community settings, this figure may be more representative of lesbians who attend gay venues. Higher concordance of vaginal flora within lesbian partnerships may support the hypothesis of a sexually transmissible factor or reflect common risk factors such as smoking.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Australian National University, 2000. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on May 2, 2005). Includes bibliographical references (p. [243]-264).

The aim of this study was to examine normative conceptions based on sexuality, gender and western context in the Swedish migration office’s (Migrationsverket) documents concerning LGBT asylum seekers. The study is conducted by a norm-critical approach and intersectional perspectives. The study consists of a discourse analysis based on Judith Butler’s theory about the heterosexual matrix and performativity, as well as Stuart Hall’s theory about the West and the Rest. Our data consists of policy documents regarding LGBT asylum administration. When analysing the documents, we found that they are based on heteronormative assumptions and western perspectives. Besides being based on heteronormative assumptions and western perspectives, we found that the documents occasionally contains of a series of contradictive aspects on LGBT related asylum cases.

<p>Abstract</p><p>Headline: Young trouble and teenage love (Fjortisgrubbel och tonårskärlek)</p><p>Number of pages: 37</p><p>Author: Annika Ilmoni</p><p>Tutor: Amelie Hössjer</p><p>Course: Media and communication C</p><p>Period: Autumn 2007</p><p>University: Division of Media and Communication, Department of Information Science, Uppsala University</p><p>Purpose/aim: The purpose of the work was to produce a comparing study of two Swedish teenage films from different periods of time, 1970 and 2005. An analysis was to be made of how love between teenagers as well as the heterosexual relationship in general was depicted in each of the films and further investigate the gender construction in both films.</p><p>Material/method: With the intention of narrowing down the complexity and make the evaluation more lucid 5 scenes from each film were used for comparison, these were chosen through the Anglo Saxon dramaturgy. To make the scenes more comparable 4 factors were used for analysis in each scene, these were: clothes, recreational activities, behaviour and environment. Beside the above given factors the heterosexual relationship were analysed and compared in each of the scenes through the theory of dominance in dialogue.</p><p>Main results: The gender construction occurs obliviously in the older film from 1970 while taking place in a more conscious way in the film from 2005. Further on the heterosexual relationship is perpetually depicted in the 70’s film with a submissive girl and predominant boy, the same dominance is easily seen in the more recent film but with a higher rate of equality as the girl is portrayed as the dominant character in almost half of all scenes. A general note for the comparison of the two films is that a consciousness of gender construction does not lead to a direct elimination of these.</p><p>Keywords: Teenage movie, post-modern feminism, gender construction, heterosexual relationship</p>

The purpose of this study was to explore heterosexual bias in the diagnosis and treatment of gay males. Two hundred-fifty (134 males and 116 females) mental health professionals from the Division of Psychotherapy (29) of the American Psychological Association participated in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two case history conditions, which presented a 35-year-old male seeking therapy. Both conditions were equivalent with regards to the presenting problem (i.e., diagnostic symptoms) with the exception of his significant other (i.e., gay vs. non-gay condition). Potential bias was measured through a diagnostic rating Likert scale and a treatment plan questionnaire. Other independent variables that could potentially have an effect on diagnostic ratings were explored, such as gender, year of graduation, and theoretical orientation of the respondents. Results of the statistical analyses failed to confirm evidence of heterosexual bias. Implications for further research and training are discussed.

L’histoire naturelle et la progression des infections au VPH (virus du papillome humain) sont bien décrites. Cependant, la dynamique de transmission reste faiblement documentée. Une meilleure compréhension de la dynamique de transmission ainsi que de ses facteurs de risque permettrait d’optimiser les stratégies de prévention afin de réduire la prévalence de ces infections dans la population par la vaccination et les méthodes contraceptives. Notre étude vise à déterminer si la charge virale des infections au VPH influence leur transmission entre les partenaires sexuels. Pour ce faire, l’association entre la charge virale au niveau des organes génitaux et la concordance spécifique de type des infections prévalentes au VPH a été évaluée pour 250 couples hétérosexuels récemment formés. Les charges virales de VPH16 (r = 0.30), de VPH18 (r = 0.50) et de VPH51 (r = 0.19) étaient significativement corrélées (p < 0.05) entre les deux partenaires sexuels, contrairement à celles de VPH31 (r = 0.08) et de VPH42 (r = -0.1). Lorsqu’ajusté en fonction de l’âge des participants, une charge virale élevée augmentait significativement le taux de détection du même type chez le partenaire pour les types 16, 31 et 51. Ainsi, dans les couples hétérosexuels récemment formés, des charges virales élevées sont associées à une détection accrue du même type chez le partenaire sexuel. / The natural history and progression of genital HPV infection are well understood. However, less is known about transmission dynamics of HPV between sexual partners. A better knowledge of risk factors and dynamics of HPV transmission is needed to optimize prevention strategies through vaccination and contraceptive measures. Our study aims to determine if the viral load of HPV infection affects transmission between sexual partners. The association between human papillomavirus (HPV) loads in genital swabs and type-specific concordance of prevalent HPV infection was assessed in 250 heterosexual recently-formed couples to further characterize HPV transmission. Viral loads of HPV16 (r=0.30), HPV18 (r=0.50) and HPV51 (r=0.19) were significantly correlated (p<0.05) between partners in opposite to HPV31 (r=0.08) and HPV42 (r=-0.10). A higher HPV load increased significantly the rate of detection of HPV16, 31 and 51 in sexual partners (age-adjusted odds ratios from 1.64 to 7.71). In recently-formed heterosexual couples, higher HPV16, 31 or 51 load was associated with increased detection of the same HPV type in sexual partners.

This research aimed to explore the narratives of romantic jealousy in the context of infidelity for heterosexual and homosexual men from Johannesburg South Africa. This study takes on a qualitative approach using a narrative analysis in combination with a structural and thematic content analysis. The narratives of the heterosexual and homosexual men revealed the role which jealousy plays in every relationship, and how it can affect the emotions and behaviours of both partners. This study found that the narratives of these men were in contradiction to what evolutionary theories as well as past research on the topic have suggested. Evolutionary perspectives propose that heterosexual men are more inclided to sexual infidelity, this was however found to be in contradiction to the beliefs and ideas held by the participants of this study. Heterosexual participants of this study reported that for them emotional infidelity would be more jealousy provoking, as it would be a sure indication that the relationship would end. Past research findings on the other hand have suggested that homosexual males are more inclined to emotional infidelity, as they do not face the risk of cuckholdry. However the same can not be said for the narratives of the homosexual participants of this study. The narrative of all except for one homosexual participant indicated that homosexual men felt that they would be greatly affected by sexual infidelity rather than emotional infidelity. There explanations revolved around the open ended nature and ease of access to sex which is prevalent in the gay community. It is also important to note that simmilarly to the heterosexual group, most of the participnats who experienced sexual jealousy also experienced sexual infidelity. Indicating a link between the type of infidelity you experience to the type of jealousy you feel. This research identified that heterosexual participants felt that in their live stories they found emotional jealousy to be the worst apsect of infidelity while homosexual men felt that sexual jealousy was the worst aspect of infidelity.

This essay aims to analyze how The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet (2014) by Becky Chambers differs from a majority of science fiction novels regarding its depiction of gender and love. The theoretical approach used is gender studies and heteronormativity, with a focus on Judith Butler’s heterosexual matrix, and Dorthe Staunes’ definition of intersectionality. The findings of this essay show that this novel deviates from the status quo of having a white, heterosexual male as the protagonist and instead employs a primarily non-white, multi-species crew as its main characters. Characters with disabilities are given the right to exist in their own right, instead of existing as individuals who need to be cured through technology. The notion of love is also depicted in a nuanced way, where romance does not have to be an important factor in order to have a fulfilling relationship. In regard to gender, Lovey’s forming of her gender identity, with her being an AI, sets this novel apart from the majority of science fiction novels. There are aspects in this novel that still adhere to the heterosexual matrix but the aspects that veer away from this, such as the Aandrisks’ family structures, deviate in such a way that it sets The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet apart from a number of other contemporary science fiction works.

In this qualitative study, gay and straight men's experiences in male friendships were examined in order to explore differences and similarities between the participants' construction of masculinities. A social constructionist approach to understanding human experience was utilised, through an examination of in-depth interviews with 21 men (10 straight, 11 gay). The data was interpreted following a hermeneutic phenomenological approach, utilising the lens of Gestalt therapy theory, resulting in a series of essence statements, which expressed the underlying structures of the participants' experiences of masculinity. These findings revealed constructions of masculinities which were explored in relation to the participants' close male friendships and support seeking processes. A major finding was the importance of shame as a regulating variable in the gay and straight participants' construction of their masculinity. Shame or avoidance of shame appeared to be linked to the influence of a dominant heterosexual masculine ideology. It was revealed that whilst dominant masculine ideologies were experienced as powerful 'background' beliefs, the participants were able to construct contemporaneous masculinities that were contextual and field sensitive. Thus the concept of masculinities appears inherently fluid, and changeable. Furthermore, the results indicated different definitions of friendship which appeared to be related to different constructions of masculinity. The gay participants' friendships were described in interpersonal terms compared with the straight participants' friendships which appeared more focussed on external activities. The experience of shame, or fear of the potential for shame emerged as important variables that influenced intimacy, closeness and distance in gay and straight participants' friendships and their ability to seek and receive emotional social support. The finding that men appear to seek help from male friends in ways that are consistent with their constructions of masculinity has important implications for fostering supportive interactions between men. Furthermore, an understanding of men's experiences regarding what constitutes a supportive interaction and defines intimacy appears important as these views will most likely guide their decision making processes about from whom and how they might seek support. Finally, the possibilities for constructing new masculinities are explored as men's friendships and support behaviour are both influenced by, and in turn influence, the construction of masculinities.

<p>Syftet med detta examensarbete har varit att försöka förstå varför så få homosexuella ungdomar väljer att komma ut offentligt med sin homo-bisexualitet i gymnasieskolan. Min frågeställning löd ”Av vilka anledningar väljer så få gymnasieelever att öppet visa sin homo-bisexualitet”. Metoden jag använt består i tre kvalitativa intervjuer med två lärare och en rektor. Intervjuerna spelades in på band. Tre gymnasieklasser svarade också på en enkät bestående av tio frågor, sammanlagt deltog trettiotvå elever.</p><p>Resultatet av undersökningen visar att lärare och rektor inte har någon erfarenhet av öppet homo-bisexuella elever, och därmed inte känner sig insatta i problemet. De anser inte heller att homofobiska skällsord är vanligt förekommande i skolan. Majoriteten av eleverna känner heller inget obehag inför homo-bisexuella personer men anser att homofobiska skällsord är vanligt förekommande i skolan. Litteraturen och samtliga informanter är ense. Rädslan är stor för allmänhetens förlöjligande och fördömande av öppet homo-bisexuella personer.</p> / <p>The purpose of this examination work has been to understand why so few high school students choose to come out with their homo/bi sexuality. The question at issue were “Why are so few high school students open with their homo/bi sexuality?” The methods being used were three quality interviews with two teachers and one principal. The interviews were recorded on tape. Three high school classes answered a questionnaire, containing ten questions, in all there were thirty three students participating. The result of the survey shows that teachers and principals don’t know how to handle situations with openly homo/bisexual youth because of lack of experience. Their view is also that homophobic foul language isn’t commonly occurring in school. The majority of students don’t fell any discomfort in present of homo/bisexual students but consider that homophobic foul language is commonly used in school. Both the literature and all other sources are in agreement. Homosexual youth are afraid of people’s reactions and for them to condemn their sexual aptitude.</p>