Abstract
Despite an increased public and behavioral health emphasis on research which explores the link between individual sexual context
and sexual decision making, most studies have yet to adequately explore the needs and purposes that sex fulfills among women.
The current project employed photo-elicitation interviewing (PEI) as a means of generating a visual and narrative person-centered
understanding of the ways in which women orchestrate spaces for sexuality within their day-to-day lives. Sexual spaces were
created by rescripting the ordinary meaning associated with everyday locations, objects, and language to contain sexual meaning;
these spaces serve as vehicles to integrate sexuality and sexual behavior within everyday experiences. Spaces also conferred
sexual privacy and comfort for women, driving sexual desire and encouraging, as well as discouraging, contraception and condom
use in individual and complex ways. PEI provided an effective tool for magnifying this complexity through the women’s eyes
and voices, suggesting important information for the correct design of future research, intervention, and education programs.
and sexual decision making, most studies have yet to adequately explore the needs and purposes that sex fulfills among women.
The current project employed photo-elicitation interviewing (PEI) as a means of generating a visual and narrative person-centered
understanding of the ways in which women orchestrate spaces for sexuality within their day-to-day lives. Sexual spaces were
created by rescripting the ordinary meaning associated with everyday locations, objects, and language to contain sexual meaning;
these spaces serve as vehicles to integrate sexuality and sexual behavior within everyday experiences. Spaces also conferred
sexual privacy and comfort for women, driving sexual desire and encouraging, as well as discouraging, contraception and condom
use in individual and complex ways. PEI provided an effective tool for magnifying this complexity through the women’s eyes
and voices, suggesting important information for the correct design of future research, intervention, and education programs.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-15
- DOI 10.1007/s13178-011-0066-x
- Authors
- Devon J. Hensel, Section of Adolescent Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 410 West 10th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Julie Newcamp, Department of Sociology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA
- Jeren Miles, Department of Sociology, Indiana University Purdue University-Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- J. Dennis Fortenberry, Section of Adolescent Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 410 West 10th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Journal Sexuality Research and Social Policy
- Online ISSN 1553-6610
- Print ISSN 1868-9884