Sexual coercion among young street-involved adults: perpetrators' and victims' perspectives

This study explored sexual coercion in dating situations among young adults ages 18-25. Focus group discussions were conducted with a mostly street-involved and sexually diverse (straight, gay, lesbian and bisexual) sample of young adults. While aware of the risks of unsafe sex, getting sex whenever possible or getting sex over with outweighed considerations of safer sex and disease transmission. Participants noted that partners could be manipulated or coerced into sex, using alcohol and drugs; obligations, expectations, and guilt; and exploitation of emotional and economic vulnerability. Overall, participants revealed that these factors led to an increase in total number of sexual events and particularly to unsafe sex. While sexual education and safer sex programs often address sexual negotiation, a focus on changing the behaviors of those who coerce partners into sex is also needed to reduce the risk of HIV transmission.