The drama of unprotected sex: body stylizations and emotions in risk management for HIV among men who have sex with men

Authors

Keywords:

anal sex, MSM, HIV/ADS, serosorting, body stylizations, emotions

Abstract

The text discusses HIV risk management in unprotected anal sex (UAS) carried out by men who have sex with men (MSM). It is based on analyses of 25 interviews with a biographical focus with MSM, and participant observation in the gay community of Recife. The men use serosorting: UAS is chosen with partners of the same serology. Besides testing, other indicators are used to infer a serologically negative condition. Body stylizations, nuanced by affective bonds with the partners, produce emotions which mediate the willingness to engage in UAS. As they understand the precariousness of the indicators used, the men often resort to testing. This takes place after exposure to risk, as a repairing ritual for the drama of unprotected sex, but without any individual preventative effectiveness.

Author Biographies

Luís Felipe Rios, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco

Laboratório de Estudos da Sexualidade Humana, Programa de Pós-graduação em Psicologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco.

Amanda Pereira Albuquerque, Laboratório de Estudos da Sexualidade Humana, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco

Mestranda em Psicologia no Programa de Pós-graduação em Psicologia Cognitiva da UFPE, Pesquisadora associada do Laboratório de Estudos da Sexualdiade Humana.

Warlley Santana, Laboratório de Estudos da Sexualidade Humana, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco

Graduado em Psicologia pela Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, pesquisador associado do Laboratório de Estudos da Sexualdiade Humana.

Amanda França Pereira, Laboratório de Estudos da Sexualidade Humana, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco

Graduada em Psicologia pela Univeridade Federal de Pernambuco, pesquisadora associada do Laboratório de Estudos da Sexualdiade Humana.

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Published

2019-08-31

Issue

No. 32 (2019)

Section

Articles

License

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