This study explored adolescent township boys’ attitudes and perceptions towards sexual relationships. There has been substantial evidence in recent literature that violence against women is a problem worldwide and a growing concern, especially in South Africa (Human Rights Watch, 2001; Jewkes, Levin, Mbananga & Bradshaw, 2002; Statistics South Africa, 2005; Stats SA Archive, 2002). In addition, it appears that South African girls are more likely to be sexually assaulted by one, or more of their male classmates (Haffejee, 2006; Human Rights Watch, 2001; Mirsky, 2003; Posel, 2005). Moreover, adolescents’ attitudes regarding violence against girls have been found to help perpetuate such violence (Lewis, 2000; Varga, 2003; Vogelman, 1990). On the basis of the socialisation theory, it was postulated that the way in which a boy is socialised in his home, school, peer group and society at large, impacts on his attitudes and perceptions of rape and hence the incidence of sexual violence in South Africa (Vogelman, 1990). This study therefore aimed to understand and investigate male adolescents’ perceptions and attitudes towards gender stereotypes, sexual consent and rape supportive beliefs or myths, in particular, focusing on what the construct of ‘rape’ is perceived to be. The subjective world of adolescent township boys was explored within the qualitative paradigm. In investigating the research aims, 11 adolescent boys, aged between 16 and 19 attending one high school in Alexandra participated in the study. The research was conducted in the form of both semi-structured individual interviews and focus groups of 3-5 participants. Various psychological, social and emotional themes relating to the theory of socialisation were explored. The participants’ responses were recorded and then analysed utilising content analysis. From the analysis one can infer that society has got a major role to play in attitudes towards sexual assault and how it is dealt with. It was found that the majority of the participants in this study have adopted some rape supportive beliefs and ideas, and have been heavily encouraged to display, and hence do display some sexrole stereotypes and hegemonic masculinity. This study therefore supports the notion that socialisation factors play an important role in the development of stereotypical notions of sex role behaviour in adolescent males, which may further contribute to the incidence of rape.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2004. / Supervisor: Joseph E. Potter. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

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Sexual consent is something that is receiving more widespread attention in the face of the #MeToo movement. However, sexual consent as the gold standard of sex is misguided and emphasized to the extent that all other relevant areas of consideration in terms of sex are all but eliminated. In this thesis, I begin by focusing on the flaws of sexual consent. I argue sexual consent is flawed in theory as it conforms to the masculinist tradition of philosophy, it oversimplifies sex, and it attempts to be objective in the face of sex. Further, there is a misguided attempt to fit sex into one-size-fits-all normative ethical approaches. I then argue that any sexual education surrounding consent is ineffective and overruled by the pervasive and poor representations of sex in mainstream media and mainstream pornography. I will then resolve these flaws by arguing for more emphasis placed upon non-mainstream theories of sex, namely theories put forward by Ann Cahill and Quill Kukla. I will then argue for the consent-forward approach to be replaced by a care-forward approach, following care ethics and Joan Tronto’s four qualities of care. Finally, I will argue for an improvement of sexual education and sexual normalization, by fixing sexual education and improving representations of sex in mainstream pornography and mainstream media. In doing so, I will formulate an approach to sex that is more conducive to good sex than the consent-forward model. / Thesis / Master of Arts (MA) / The question of sexual consent has received a lot of attention as of late, with many expressing confusions surrounding the term. This confusion varies from questions about obtaining consent in an acceptable way to complaints about the seemingly ambiguous nature of the term. Recently, consent has been deemed the gold standard for participation in morally acceptable sex. I will argue that sexual consent is not as useful a tool as it is given credit for since it fails to consider morally relevant relationships, it oversimplifies and attempts to be objective, it is not properly learned or taught, and it focuses on a normative approach to consent—where sexual consent aims to be applicable to all scenarios, no matter the differences in said scenarios. I will argue throughout this thesis that sexual interactions should be more than merely permissible and rather should fall under the definition of good sex.

Thesis advisor: Sandra R. Mott / The purpose of this research was to address the gap in the literature regarding the lack of first hand accounts of the factors that influence adolescent sexual decision making. Using a narrative approach, I asked a cohort of late adolescent participants to tell their stories about the events surrounding their decision to become sexually active, and how this initial decision affected subsequent decision making. The specific research questions that guided the study were: 1) What are late adolescents' perspectives of the factors that influenced their decision to become and remain sexually active? and 2) What is the effect of sexual decision making regarding coital debut on subsequent sexual activity? To accomplish my research aims I used narrative inquiry to elicit rich information, in the adolescents' own words, about what they perceive to be the most salient factors that contributed to their decisions to engage in sexual activity. I recruited a purposive sample of 11 late adolescents between the ages of 18 and 22 years from a series of family planning and sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinics in the Northeastern United States. As their stories unfolded, four main components emerged. These components included the internal and external environmental context, expected social norms, implied sexual consent, and self-reflection and evaluation. The results of this study provide evidence that adolescent sexual decision making is a complex process with multiple layers of influence. Through the stories of my participants, I have constructed a more comprehensive conceptualization of adolescent sexual decision making and related sexual behaviors. This will guide the development of possible interventions to improve health care for this population. These interventions include expanding nursing knowledge to inform the development of theories, practice innovations, research, sexual health education, and policies for addressing adolescents' needs across the continuum of the adolescents' development from childhood to adulthood. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2009. / Submitted to: Boston College. Connell School of Nursing. / Discipline: Nursing.

A 2001 national study of college women’s sexual attitudes and behaviors revealed that students have stopped dating and started “hooking up.” Previous studies focused on fraternities and their relation to the rape culture but neglected to connect rape culture to hook up culture. This study evaluated the culture surrounding rape by interviewing seventeen college aged men about masculinity, behavior in male homosocial groups, “hooking up” and rape. It addresses the following questions: 1-How do college men understand “hooking up” and sexual consent? 2-In what ways might men’s understanding of “hooking up” and sexual consent be related to the ongoing incidence of rape on college campuses? 3- How do men understand and adhere to rape myths? In-depth interviews with college men in this study point to their dependence on nonverbal communication when negotiating “hookups,” with implications for their understandings of consent and perpetuation of myths concerning women's sexuality.

Thesis (DClinPsychol)-Salomons Centre. BLDSC no.DX220778.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Sexting has been linked to a range of sexual behaviors, including sexual assault; however, the mechanism through which sexting increases the risk for sexual assault is unknown. One explanation for the role of sexting in sexual assault could be due to gender differences in sexting and sexual communication. The current study examined men’s and women’s perceptions of sexting as a form of communicating sexual intent and sexual consent, and how sexting influences attributions of responsibility and blame in sexual encounters and alleged sexual assault. Additionally, considering the role of alcohol in sexual assault, the study also examined how both sexting and alcohol influenced individuals’ perceptions of a sexual scenario. Method:Using a factorial vignette design, N = 525 college students (48.6% women; 71% Caucasian) were randomly assigned to one of four vignettes regarding a sexual scenario between a man and woman (John and Jennifer), with sexting and/or alcohol involved. Results: Significant differences in sexting vs. texting conditions were seen for perceptions of sexual intent (F = 147.28, p< .01) and sexual consent (F = 105.86, p< .01). Men were more likely to perceive that sexual consent was exchanged (F = 9.16, p< .01) and to interpret the sext as a consent cue (F = 7.82, p< .01). John was attributed more responsibility/blame across all conditions (F = 154.58, p< .01); however, Jennifer was attributed more blame in the sexting conditions (F = 9.16, p< .01). Conclusion: Results suggest that despite sexting as a signal of sexual interest, there are differences in how men and women perceive sexting as sexual consent, which may influence the risk for sexual assault. Additionally, there are differential effects of sexting for men vs. women, such that women may be judged more harshly for sexting, suggesting evidence of the sexual double standard. Results offer important implications for sexual assault prevention and sexual gender roles.

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