Troubling Anal Sex: Gender, Power, and Sexual Compliance in Heterosexual Experiences of Anal Intercourse

Breanne Fahs; Eric Swank; Lindsay Clevenger

doi:10.1007/s12147-014-9129-7

Troubling Anal Sex: Gender, Power, and Sexual Compliance in Heterosexual Experiences of Anal Intercourse

Breanne Fahs, Eric Swank, Lindsay Clevenger

Humanities, Arts and Cultural Studies, School of (SHARCS)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Existing literatures on anal sex mostly focus on links between anal sex and public health, particularly sexual risk-taking. Drawing upon feminist theoretical frameworks, this study linked anal sex activities of heterosexual men and women to broader issues of sexist power imbalances. This study analyzed survey data from 205 undergraduates to assess the relationship between frequency of vaginal and anal intercourse and ten correlates, including identity, sexual aggression, and attitudinal and behavioral practices. Being single and support for women’s abstinence was negatively correlated with vaginal but not anal sex, while anal sex was connected to support of hegemonic masculinity and lifetime experiences with sexual coercion, particularly for women. Implications for gender and power dynamics of heterosexual anal sex were explored.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	19-38
Number of pages	20
Journal	Gender Issues
Volume	32
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s12147-014-9129-7
State	Published - Mar 2014

Keywords

Anal sex
Gender roles
Sexual coercion
Sexual compliance
Sexuality

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Gender Studies

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10.1007/s12147-014-9129-7

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abstract = "Existing literatures on anal sex mostly focus on links between anal sex and public health, particularly sexual risk-taking. Drawing upon feminist theoretical frameworks, this study linked anal sex activities of heterosexual men and women to broader issues of sexist power imbalances. This study analyzed survey data from 205 undergraduates to assess the relationship between frequency of vaginal and anal intercourse and ten correlates, including identity, sexual aggression, and attitudinal and behavioral practices. Being single and support for women{\textquoteright}s abstinence was negatively correlated with vaginal but not anal sex, while anal sex was connected to support of hegemonic masculinity and lifetime experiences with sexual coercion, particularly for women. Implications for gender and power dynamics of heterosexual anal sex were explored.",

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Troubling Anal Sex: Gender, Power, and Sexual Compliance in Heterosexual Experiences of Anal Intercourse

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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