Abstract: Based on ethnographic observations in two high schools, this paper analyzes how sex educators deploy the neoliberal discourse of personal responsibility in their comprehensive and abstinence-only lessons. I focus not just on the explicit and intended messages of personal responsibility but also the hidden and evaded lessons that are imparted in the classroom. The findings demonstrate that sex educators rely on and reproduce gender, race, class, and sexual inequalities in their lessons in personal responsibility that put forth a version of the good sexual citizen as self-sufficient, self-regulating, and consequence-bearing, what I call the responsible sexual agent. Yet, in their hidden and evaded lessons, sex educators also underscore the extent to which people’s lives are intertwined with and reliant on others, suggesting the discourse of personal responsibility is inadequate for capturing the complexities and realities of people’s intimate lives. The findings point to the importance of examining the translation and negotiation of neoliberal sex education policy at the classroom level.

Abstract: Over the last decade, there have been a rising number of prosecutions for nondisclosure of HIV status along with heightened media attention to the issue in Canada. One hundred twenty-two people living with HIV were interviewed concerning the effects of criminalization on their sense of personal security and their romantic and sexual relationships. The largest number of respondents believe that criminalization has unfairly shifted the burden of proof so that they: are held to be guilty until proven innocent; are now caught in a difficult he-said/(s)he-said situation of having to justify their actions, disgruntled partners now have a legal weapon to wield against them regardless of the facts and the onus now falls on women whose male partners could ignore their wishes regarding safer sex. In terms of general impact, many respondents report: a heightened sense of uncertainty, fear or vulnerability, but others feel that the climate of acceptance is still better than in the early days of the epidemic or that the prosecution of the high profile cases is justified. The increasing focus of the court system on penalizing non-disclosure is having counter-productive or unanticipated consequences that can run contrary to the ostensible objective of discouraging behaviour likely to transmit HIV.

Abstract: Discrimination has been linked to negative health outcomes among minority populations. The increasing evidence regarding health disparities among sexual minorities has underscored the importance of addressing sexuality discrimination as a public health issue. We conducted a web-based survey between May and September of 2012 in order to obtain a diverse sample of young men who have sex with men (ages 18–29; N = 397; 83 % gay; 49 % black, 27 % white, 15 % Latino) living in the Detroit Metro Area (Michigan, USA). Using multivariate regression models, we examined the association between overall health (self-rated health, days in prior month when their physical or mental health was not good, and limited functionality) and experiences of sexuality-based work discrimination. Fifteen percent reported at least one experience of sexuality-based work discrimination in the prior year. Recent workplace discrimination was associated with poorer self-rated health, a greater number of days when health was not good, and more functional limitation. We discuss the importance of addressing sexuality-related discrimination as a public health problem and propose multilevel intervention strategies to address these discriminatory practices.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to examine how young people are intentionally or unintentionally exposed to sexual material on the internet. A sample from the EU Kids Online II project, including youth (N = 11,712, 11–16 years, 50 % girls) from 25 countries, was used to examine predictors of unintentional exposure to online sexual material (EOSM) via pop-up images and intentional EOSM on adult/X-rated websites. Using a multilevel analysis, we considered several individual-level predictors (psychosocial characteristics, patters of internet use, and parental mediation), one country-level predictor (mean cultural liberalism of the country), and cross-level interactions. Except for gender, the study did not identify any specific patterns of individual-level predictors for unintentional and intentional EOSM: age, sensation seeking, sexual intercourse, amount of time spent online, level of digital skills, and degree of restrictive mediation predicted both types of EOSM. Intentional EOSM was more often reported by boys, while unintentional EOSM occurred to a similar degree among boys and girls. Finally, living in a country with a stronger culture of liberalism predicted a greater likelihood of intentional but not unintentional EOSM and also was associated with smaller gender differences in intentional EOSM.

Abstract: While school-based sex education is one of the key program and policy solutions to improve adolescent sexual health outcomes, new efforts are needed to strengthen its overall impact. The cognitive, hormonal, emotional, and physical changes that accompany the onset of puberty and occur throughout the teenage years play a significant role in aspects of adolescent sexual risk taking. Thus, one approach to advancing current understanding of these complex issues is to leverage emerging knowledge in developmental affective neuroscience over the past 15 years, which suggests some potentially promising innovations that may inform new educational directions to improve adolescent sexual health. Exploring the conceptual and empirical advances in understanding adolescent brain development through the lens of the conceptualization, implementation, and evaluation of sex education, this article provides new perspectives that encourage the testing of innovative approaches to sex education policy and practice.

Abstract: Recent studies in Chile provide encouraging data on the attitude of the Chilean society toward sexual minorities, although other studies reveal that new ways to express stigma and discrimination toward sexual minorities have emerged. The objective of this study was the construction and validation of a measure to describe and characterize stigma and discrimination toward the gay men and transgender women population in Chile. Two studies were conducted. In study 1, the initial version of a scale, consisting of 147 items, was constructed in a process involving three phases: (a) a theoretical phase, (b) a qualitative phase, and (c) a phase using the original version of our scale. This original version was administered to a non-probabilistic snowball-type sample of 100 gay men (pilot study). After several analyses, the items were selected for the abbreviated version of the scale (SISD). Thus, the scale finally contained 23 items in six dimensions. In study 2, the SISD was administered to a type of RDS for gay men and a non-probabilistic snowball-type sample for transgender women. This study included 437 subjects aged 18–75 years (M = 32.22, SD = 10.22), 325 gay men (74.4 %), and 112 transgender women (25.6 %). The reliability coefficient was 0.89 for the SISD. In addition, there were statistically significant differences in the SISD scores between gay men and transgender women (t (435) = −2.48, p < 0.05, d = 0.26). Moreover, statistically significant differences were found between gay men and transgender women in three dimensions of the scale: disadvantages in the presence of authorities (t (435) = −2.83, p < 0.005, d = 0.31); discrimination at work (t (435) = −3.78, p < 0.005, d = 0.40); and institutional exclusion (t (434) = −4.25, p < 0.001, d = 0.46). A high percentage of individuals from each group reported victimization and discrimination events due to their condition as gay men and transgender women. Therefore, the SISD is a reliable and valid instrument to measure stigma and discrimination toward the gay men and transgender women population in Chile.

Abstract: Young transgender women, especially those of color, are negatively impacted by suicidality, HIV, residential instability, survival sex work, and other challenges. This study used an oral narrative approach to collect life histories of 10 young black transwomen between 18 and 24 years of age residing in Detroit, Michigan. This study used grounded theory analysis to explore institutional violence, discrimination, and harassment (VDH). Participants described their experiences navigating three community institutions (schools, the criminal justice system, and churches) and broader society. Results highlight VDH through gender policing at school, sexual victimization in the criminal justice system, and negative judgment of gender variation in faith-based institutions. Participants reference the essential role of support systems, including other transgender individuals, in both their gender identity development and the navigation of institutions. Significant policy intervention is needed to protect and support transwomen, and prevent VDH perpetuated against them. Across all institutions, policy and practice interventions can focus on use of transgender appropriate and sensitive language, prevention of physical and sexual assaults, and anti-discrimination measures. Specific policy recommendations and future research directions are outlined.

Abstract: Performing needs assessment is an essential step for developing and designing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) educational programs. In Iran, there is little information about couples’ SRH educational needs. This research aimed to describe engaged couples’ SRH educational needs in Tehran in 2010. In a cross-sectional study, 450 engaged people participating in a premarital educational course were selected by randomized stratified sampling with two-gender strata. A questionnaire was developed as a new measurement tool to determine the need for education in the SRH field using a 5-point Likert scale. A high percentage of both men (44.8 %) and women (56.6 %) mentioned a high or very high need for education in SRH, and the mean reported need for SRH education was significantly higher in women (42.29 ± 10.35) than men (39.74 ± 10.84) (P = 0.02). “Healthy sexual relationships” was the most important topic for both men and women, with 51 % of men and 62 % of women reporting a high to very high need. Our findings demonstrate that engaged Iranian couples wish to receive information about SRH matters, particularly in topics related to sexuality. The results suggest a need for developing comprehensive and culturally sensitive marital education for engaged Iranian couples.

Abstract: There has been limited research on the types of programs that male-for-male escorts would want for themselves. In 2013, 418 Internet-based male escorts completed an online survey. Participants were presented with a description of an ongoing outreach program for male sex workers called “Rent University” and asked to select workshop topics that they would be interested in (from a list of 14). Participants selected, on average, six workshops. The most commonly selected workshops centered around enhancing one’s career/wealth as an escort (e.g., “Attracting the ‘right’ clients and keeping them” 65.0 %, “Escorting and legal matters” 64.0 %, “How best to market yourself online” 62.7 %, “Financial planning and planning for the future” 52.7 %). More often than not, demographic characteristics were unassociated with selecting individual topics. Being younger, having less than a college degree, being gay identified, and having used club drugs in the past 12 months were associated with expressing interest in a greater number of workshops. Those seeking to provide such services might be well served to ensure that materials are at an appropriate reading level and culturally acceptable for younger, gay-identified men.

Abstract: Sex parties are environments where men who have sex with men (MSM) have the opportunity to have sex with multiple partners over a brief period of time. Dim lighting and nonverbal communication are the characteristics of sex parties that make sexual communication more challenging. We report on qualitative data from 47 MSM who attended sex parties in New York City. Participants responded to distinct hypothetical scenarios involving the use of color-coded wristbands to communicate (1) condom use preferences, (2) sexual position (e.g., top, bottom), and (3) human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status at sex parties. The majority had positive-to-neutral attitudes toward color-coded wristbands to indicate (1) condom use preference and (2) sexual position (70.8, 75.0 % HIV positive; 63.6, 81.8 %, HIV negative, respectively). These men cited that wristbands would facilitate the process of pursuing partners with similar interests while also avoiding the discomforts of verbal communication. In contrast, 41.7 % of HIV-positive and 50.0 % of HIV-negative men expressed unfavorable attitudes to using wristbands to communicate HIV status. These men cited the potential for HIV-status discrimination as well as suspicions around dishonest disclosure. Although participants were receptive to utilizing color-coded wristbands at sex parties to convey certain information, it may be unfeasible to use wristbands to communicate HIV status.

Abstract: Recent efforts to promote a rights-based approach to sexuality education have emphasized the integration of human rights and gender equality principles into health promotion messages, with the goal of empowering youth regarding their sexual health and rights. When operationalizing this model into practice, it is critical that program developers and researchers engage youth in dialogue about the nature and meaning of these inherently complex constructs to enhance program relevance and effectiveness. In this study, we explored perspectives on sexual rights and gender equality in adolescent sexual relationships through eight focus groups with youth (N = 51) in low-income, predominantly Hispanic and African-American communities in Los Angeles, CA, as part of the development of a rights-based sexuality education initiative. Although youth were familiar with human rights in the context of social justice movements, many questioned the application of human rights to their own relationships. Youth articulated a number of potential challenges of the rights framework for adolescent relationships, addressing issues of relationship friction, rule-breaking, gender roles, and types of relationships. This article explores these themes and offers recommendations for the development of rights-based sexuality education programs and policy that are guided by the voices, interests, needs, and concerns of young people.

Abstract: Policies related to youth and their sexuality, health, and rights are rarely informed by youth voices and perspectives. We sought to understand youth voice and knowledges in their conceptions of youth rights expressed through slam poetry. We draw from theories of critical race, LatCrit, and asset-based approaches to adolescent sexual health to explore youth’s perspectives on sexuality, health, and rights. Using rhetorical and content analysis, we analyzed 50 poems from a local organization that supports youth poetry slam. Key themes that emerged in our analyses included youth (in 33 % of poems), sexuality (7 %), health (10 %), and rights (7 %). A smaller selection of poems (n = 9) that represented key themes were chosen for critical analysis. Youth consistently responded to regressive legislation in Arizona through slam poetry and expressed the desire for rights to knowledges and the need for supportive policies and practices that consider and reflect the complex realities of their lives. Youth made calls for action and community outreach, and they used poetry as an expression of social action and change. We conclude that youth voice may inform policies and practices that are comprehensive in support of sexual health and rights for youth.

Abstract: This paper assesses expert discourse within the social and political debate on lesbian and gay parenting. In particular, we analyze the discursive strategies used by the defenders of lesbian and gay parenting, and their impact on the process of the social construction of this new family setting. We examine the discourse of experts invited to a special session of the Spanish Senate addressing changes to the Spanish Civil Code related to the possible regulation of same-sex marriage. Discourse analysis is used for this purpose, specifically the identification of interpretative repertoires in the construction and defense of alternative parenthood. The study identifies three main interpretative repertoires in the analyzed material: lesbian and gay parenthood is “not different”; “the question of rights,” that is, balancing potential tension between the rights of same-sex parents and children; and “desexualization” as a normalizing strategy. These repertoires are evaluated in relation to existing tension between the assimilationist–normalization approach and other frameworks that reject heterocentric solutions. The possibility of establishing an alternative research agenda is discussed.

Abstract: Access to care is a critical issue for ameliorating the health and social impact of marginalization. Research indicates that sexual minority women experience low utilization of medical care overall, combined with high levels of substance abuse and lack of access to culturally appropriate services. This study uses qualitative data to examine factors that affect access to services for sexual minority women who use(d) heroin or crack cocaine. Semi-structured interviews were done with 34 sexual minority women drug users, of diverse sexual identities, recruited from community-based agencies. Interviews explored factors shaping service utilization, including basic life history, self-assessed needs, positive and negative experiences with service providers, and barriers to care. Analysis explored prejudice and discrimination at institutional and interactional levels, the role of social policy, the interactional dynamics surrounding gender presentation, and how these institutional and social processes shape individual experience. The women who participated in this study described multiple layers of marginalization that limited access to—and discouraged use of—a range of vital services, but their stories simultaneously demonstrated the power of personal networks and low-threshold agencies to share resources, provide bridges to services, and build supportive communities.

Abstract: Researchers have long discussed the negative implications of discourses about teenage pregnancy The authors of this article join this discussion by focusing on the tension between social/educational imperatives to prevent teenage pregnancy and the educational imperative to support all students Drawing from data from the My Pregnancy Story Project—a mixed-method study of the lived experiences of 27 young pregnant and/or mothering women—this article illustrates that pregnant and mothering students often endure school environments in which they are consistently reminded of their “mistake” by teachers, peers, and sex education learning activities Although some participants reported feeling stigmatized and silenced, these young women also articulated what they want from their schools Reflecting on these youth voices, the authors call for school personnel and those making policy decisions to examine and revise school policies in the areas of harassment and bullying, school codes of conduct, personnel hiring and training, health and sex education pedagogy, and access to information

Abstract: The Brief Sexual Attitudes Scale (BSAS) is a 23-item condensed version of the Sexual Attitudes Scale that was developed in response to concerns about the psychometric properties of measure as well as colleagues’ requests for a shorter instrument (Braun-Courville and Rojas Journal of Adolescent Health 45:156–162, 2009; Hendrick and Hendrick The Journal of Sex Research 23:502–526, 1987, Social and Personal Relationships 23:881–899, 2006). Even though it is relatively new, the BSAS may contribute to policy-making because it can be used to assess changes in sexual behavior associated with interventions. The purpose of the present brief report is to contribute to the assessment of the scale’s validity. This was done by comparing results of the current study, conducted in 2011, to the results from the original measurement. Results both challenged and supported the validity of the BSAS.

Abstract: This study explores how the relationship between students’ risk of being bullied and their gender conformity differs depending on whether they attend single-sex or coeducational high schools. Findings indicate that gender nonconforming students, and students who vary from their dominant school gender norms, are most likely to experience bullying regardless of school context. Single-sex schools emerge as a protective factor for gender nonconforming females, possibly due to a privileged position female masculinity holds in a single-sex female context. These findings contribute to a complicated terrain emerging in the research literature on single-sex schools.

Abstract: For lesbian women, both identity disclosure (“coming out”) and nondisclosure (“remaining closeted”) may have life-altering consequences to health and overall well-being. As with most countries, the USA may have specific regions where disclosure may have more severe consequences and nondisclosure may therefore be a pragmatic and a self-protective decision. This study explored disclosure, social support, and depression in 265 self-identified lesbian women by geographic sectors and political differences in the USA and Canada. The South was found to have less legal protection, less disclosure by geographic sector, more religiosity and less family support. Improvement and furthering protections for LGBT citizens in these states may promote their health and well-being. Legislators of all political persuasions and in all geographic locations are called upon to serve all of their citizens by promoting legal and social protections and equality at the local, state, and federal levels.

Abstract: The constitutionality of criminalizing plural conjugal unions recently came under review through a reference on s.293 of the Criminal Code of Canada. This article examines popular narratives of the reference, focusing on the role of polyamorists in this case and its impact on their socio-legal positioning. An examination of public texts yields three competing narratives: Canadian citizens fighting government intrusion, fundamentalist religious practitioners seeking religious freedom, and patriarchal oppression of women and children. The most successful of these narratives construct clear boundaries between monogamous citizens and polygamous outsiders. The final judgment upheld the criminalization of plural conjugal union while parsing unsanctified polyamorous relationships as outside the intent of the law. This maneuver affirms the centrality of monogamy to Canadian citizenship and the privileged legal position of monogamists. At the same time, polyamorists are “saved” from explicit criminalization, but only as long as their community and its unions remain unrecognized. Polyamorists' position as marginal citizens is reaffirmed.

Abstract: This study explored the perceived barriers to the provision of sexual and reproductive health information and services for young people in the health sector of Iran. This is a qualitative study; data were collected in Tehran, capital of Iran. The study method included two parts: in-depth interview with 54 key stakeholders including religious leaders, policy makers, senior academics, and health care managers; and six focus groups with staff from provisional and local levels. The identified barriers by the key informants in the health care system and in other organizations were classified into four categories: the political ambiguity about reproductive rights, the ineffective arrangement and inefficient programs, the lack of capable human resources, and the poor collaboration and coordination among key actors. There are many barriers in addressing young people's sexual and reproductive health needs in Iran; therefore, the health sector of Iran has to be strengthened in this area. This requires strong political support and collaboration between various stakeholders to carry out sustainable and coordinated intervention. Such health reinforcement efforts will eventually impact the health of young people positively.

Abstract: The vast majority of young people experience gender or sexuality-based harassment in schools. Effective strategies exist for addressing this problem; however, little is known about parents’ attitudes toward such safe schools policies and practices. In light of recent legislation and case law that reify parental rights over children’s lives, parents’ attitudes toward these issues represent an important focus for research and intervention. In the current study, 301 Illinois parents completed an online survey assessing their attitudes about implementing specific safe schools policies and practices as well as their knowledge about their children’s harassment experiences in schools. Results demonstrate that parents overwhelmingly support practices that protect students from harm but are somewhat more ambivalent toward those that allow children to develop and assert agency. Though some demographic differences were observed in support for safe schools policies and practices, knowledge that their child had been harassed still predicted increased parental support after controlling for demographic effects. Our findings suggest that parents should be viewed as allies, rather than opponents, in the push to implement safe schools policies and practices. In addition, parental attitudes constitute a critical pathway through which young people may be able to affect change within their schools and communities.

Abstract: Few studies have examined the effect of sexual objectification on consumption and materialism. We addressed this gap in the literature by examining whether sexual objectification is related to conspicuous consumption and materialism. More specifically, we attempt to answer the following questions: “What are some of the major antecedents of conspicuous consumption and materialism?” and “Is there any relationship between conspicuous consumption and materialism?” Using a quantitative approach, a multistage and cluster sampling method, and self-report questionnaires, we gathered responses from 362 young females living in Iran, as a developing country governed by Islamic codes. Participants completed self-report measures of the following variables: interpersonal sexual objectification scale (ISOS), body surveillance, body shame, conspicuous consumption, and materialism. Results showed that conspicuous consumption was significantly related to materialism. Regression analyses also indicate that body surveillance, as the main variable of self-objectification, had the highest impact on conspicuous consumption. Finally, according to our findings, conspicuous consumption was the main antecedent for materialism. The following study provides evidence for the negative effects of objectification on consumption and materialism.

Abstract: The present study intends to understand the experience of sexuality after menopause among a group of women, through their life experiences, considering the construction of meanings attributed to this phase by doctors and patients in the gynaecologist's office environment. The issues involving menopausal female sexuality such as low libido and decreased sexual pleasure are associated to oestrogen levels plunges by doctors, frequently described as ‘symptoms’, during the research. During the gynaecological visits, women's perceptions about sexuality during menopause can go through a process of construction/reconstruction and negotiation. It changes the way women perceive the stage, leading to deep consequences in the way women experience the phenomena in their own body. The analysis is based on ethnographic material collected between September 2009 and October 2010 in a Brazilian university hospital. It includes interviews with women attending the Menopause Outpatient Facility and their doctors (gynaecology residents and medicine undergraduate students), observations during gynaecological visits and the group meeting follow-up, responsible to provide psychological assistance at the women's clinic.

Abstract: Based upon 50 interviews that took place over the course of 3 years of ethnographic research with 100 female street-based sex workers in Denver, Colorado, the tenth largest city in the United States, this article explores the cultural ethos informing women’s interactions with police and the tools women use to navigate their struggles with homelessness, addiction, and the everyday violence of the street. It identifies three beliefs about patrol officers that reflect the complexities of women’s interactions with police: arrest is indiscriminate in a “known prostitution area,” arrest avoidance strategies necessitate interpreting behavioral cues while showing respect to officers and forming affective bonds with potential clients, and officers may abuse their authority. This belief system is part of an environment in which women’s stigmatized behaviors are highly visible and constitute an increased risk of negative police encounters. Changes to policing practices remain unlikely while women’s sex work and drug use activities remain criminalized. Findings presented support arguments for decriminalizing prostitution as well as the implementation of harm reduction-oriented social policy, including services that inform women about their rights in the criminal justice system while facilitating awareness of how their individual lives intersect with gender, class, and racial bias in a sociolegal system that stigmatizes and criminalizes their choices.

Abstract: There are several competing models of conceptualizing the prostitution industry. One such model, the polymorphous model, posits that sex work contains positive and negative factors and that both must be considered when assessing the consequences of participating in prostitution. This study examines the relationship between participation in prostitution and familial relationships using the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent Health data. The present study conceptualized participation in prostitution to include both clients and providers. Results indicate that participation in prostitution is not a predictor of parenting satisfaction, relationship satisfaction, or of reporting being the victim of domestic violence. It is, however, associated with a significantly increased chance of perpetrating domestic violence (OR = 2.59). These results highlight the possible power dynamic present in prostitution and how these may influence intimate partner relationships. These dynamics are discussed and their influence on policy is considered.

Abstract: Latino youth are the fastest-growing ethnic group in the USA and will soon comprise a significant portion of our future leadership and workforce. Prejudicial stereotypes about Latino youth—such as the assumption that teen pregnancy will inevitably lead to lower educational attainment—ignore significant advancements in educational and sexual health outcomes and contribute to inequities in health and education policies. A total of 332 Latino-identified youth living in California gave voice to their educational aspirations, challenges, and sexual and reproductive health needs through an exploratory mixed-methods research study. Youth participated in interviews and focus groups (n = 105) and in a statewide survey (n = 227) to explore assets that help youth overcome discriminatory low expectations and improve sexual decision making and educational aspirations. Results indicated most Latino youth desire to attend college. Likelihood of attending college was associated with individual and environmental assets. Lower likelihood of attending college was associated with perceived discrimination from teachers. Sexually active youth reported high levels of contraceptive use. Many youth want to defy the negative stereotypes and are seeking successful futures despite the structural challenges and social bias. There is an urgent need to reframe the negative public discourse about Latino youth, to acknowledge their resilience and to address underlying structural factors creating inequities. Specific policy recommendations are provided to promote positive sexual health and educational outcomes among Latino youth.

Abstract: Nonmarital parity is associated with several negative outcomes, including health problems, educational problems, and poverty. Understanding the risk and protective factors associated with nonmarital parenthood can inform policy and interventions, reducing both the incidences and associated consequences. The current study focuses on how intrinsic and extrinsic religiosity (the degree to which individuals or groups employ religious ideology in forming values and making decisions) are related to the timing of nonmarital parity using discrete time hazard modeling of a nationally representative sample of adolescent females (N = 7,367) from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. The majority of the sample (86 %) claimed a religious affiliation and almost a third (32 %) had a nonmarital birth during the study. Even though the majority of the sample is White (67 %), Black and Hispanic females were more likely to experience a nonmarital birth. Results indicate that intrinsic and extrinsic religiosity and religious affiliation assert protective effects for some populations while religious affiliation increases risk in the full model. Recommendations for policy, intervention, and future research are offered.

Abstract: Many studies document the susceptibility of adolescent girls in the child welfare system to negative sexual experiences (e.g., James et al. 2009). However, this body of research tends to frame sexual risk in individualized, deficit-focused terms that overlook contextual factors and girls’ sexual agency (Harris 2004; Kelly 2001). We analyzed the sexual history narratives of adolescent girls in residential treatment using theoretical and inductive thematic analysis (Braun and Clarke 2006) to gain a more thorough understanding of their sexual risks and sexual agency. Participants described advocating for their sexual interests but with variable success. Upon examination of occasions when agency did not produce intended results, we observed participants’ vulnerability to be linked to their broader social, material, and relational circumstances, not necessarily to intrinsic deficits such as a lack of sexual assertiveness. Results highlight how girls’ sexual experiences are influenced by the contexts in which they are embedded. This more holistic view indicates that sexual health promotion efforts should not only address individual factors related to sexuality but also must bolster the social and material resources of girls in the child welfare system.

Abstract: This pilot study explored if a relationship existed between maternal sexual health knowledge, religiosity and comfort discussing sexual health issues with adolescents. Seventy-six mothers with adolescent children aged between 10 and 19 completed a combined survey addressing religiosity, sexual health knowledge and comfort discussing sexual health issues. Mann–Whitney U tests were performed to compare the median scores, Spearman’s rho tests were performed to determine correlations between the median scores, Fisher’s exact tests were computed to test for significant differences between proportions and a logistic regression model was used to investigate significant factors. No significant differences or relationships between maternal total sexual health knowledge, total religiosity and total comfort discussing sexual health issues with adolescents were detected; however, specific sexual health topics did show differences. Mothers with a higher level of religiosity were more likely to feel uncomfortable discussing masturbation, condoms, abortion, sexual assault and contraception than mothers with a lower level of religiosity. Regardless of religiosity, many of the mothers in the study reported a lack of accurate knowledge regarding some sexual health topics. The findings suggest that mothers need more education regarding accurate sexual health information if they are to comfortably provide comprehensive sexual health education in a religiously sensitive context.