Intoxication, Sexual Consent and Masculine Performances

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Psychology
• Gender Studies

Background:

• Understanding how young men perceive and enact masculinity is crucial.
• Sexual consent negotiation, particularly in contexts involving intoxication, remains a complex area of study.
• Theories of masculinity and sexual scripts offer frameworks for analyzing male sexual behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine how young heterosexual men negotiate masculinity, manhood, and sexual consent in intoxicated sexual encounters.
• To explore the interplay between evolving notions of ethical sexual behavior and traditional male sexual scripts.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with young men in Northern California.
• Analysis drew upon theories of masculinity and sexual script theory.
• The study focused on experiences within intoxicated sexual encounters.

Main Results:

• Many men distanced themselves from predatory behavior, redefining "real manhood" through affirmative consent.
• Strategies like personal rules and relational familiarity often reinforced traditional male-initiator norms.
• Participants reported occasional regret and vulnerability, challenging assumptions of male sexual readiness and control.

Conclusions:

• Intoxicated sexual encounters are critical sites where masculinity is both reproduced and reshaped.
• Tensions exist between emerging ethical self-presentation and traditional sexual scripts among young men.
• Negotiations of masculinity and consent in these encounters highlight evolving gender dynamics.