Risky heterosexual practices amongst women over 30: gender, power and long term relationships
Maxwell, C.; Boyle, M.
Aids Care 7(3): 277-293
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0954-0121 PMID: 7578305 DOI: 10.1080/09540129550126515Document Number: 292444
The present study investigated risk behaviors and the practice of safer sex in older age groups focusing on heterosexual women's attitudes and behaviors. Group discussions with women over the age of 30 (n = 23) targeted the gendered power dimension of heterosexuality and safer sex in long term relationships. All were resident in the UK and lived in London. Ages ranged from 30 to 51 years, and the average age was 38 years. 22 of the participants described themselves as heterosexual; one described herself as bisexual. The 23 women were divided into three groups of six and one group of five. Virtually all the participants disliked condoms. Nonpenetrative sex was spontaneously mentioned as a method of safer sex in two of the four groups. However, only one person had actually chosen it as a method of safer sex. It was noticeable that whilst some participants reported a certain amount of empowerment in short term or casual relationships, the power differential seemed to be even greater in long term relationships. It is possible that women in long term relationships may indeed practice unsafe sexual behaviors through a need for trust. Many of the group participants still found it difficult to assert themselves in sexual relationships and even those who were able to challenge overt pressures to engage in unsafe sex were still susceptible to internalized social pressures. Change may be even more problematic because of social norms and gender-power imbalance. Cohort issues were also discussed. Women and men over 30 may be even more vulnerable to the difficulties inherent in changing behavior because they established their sexual behaviors at a time when the condom as a method of contraception had been superseded by the pill. The vast majority of participants had taken the pill and had not readily established a pattern of condom use.