Demystifying Sexual Health And Masculinity (Part 2)

“The behavior of a human being in sexual matters is often a prototype for the whole of his other modes of reaction in life.”- Sigmund Freud. It is rather unfortunate that in the Jamaican society sexual health is not widely spoken about through official channels. As a result this lends itself to numerous myths and misconceptions regarding one’s sexual health. To a great extent sexual health is grounded in oral traditions. Our boys receive their sex education from the elders on the street corner. Regrettably, oftentimes the information being passed down by the older folks is not grounded in scientific principles. This becomes problematic in a society which glorifies hyper-and toxic masculinities. Numerous Jamaican males are profoundly scarred from forced sexual encounters during childhood. Many parents, especially fathers are supportive towards their son’s early sexual initiation. The popular belief is the earlier a boy has sexual intercourse with a female the higher the probability he will not become gay. Social anthropologist, Dr Herbert Gayle of the University of the West Indies is of the opinion that hundreds of Jamaican men are suffering traumatic effects of early sexual initiation. These are often shrouded in a misguided façade of masculinity throughout their lives. “About 64 per cent of males in Jamaica have sex before age 16; which is a little bit more than studies done in the 1990s that were showing something over 50 per cent. Forty-two per cent of those would have had sex with someone over the age of 18,” noted Gayle. Dr Karen Carpenter, Head of the Institute for Gender Development Studies at the UWI, stated “many Jamaican boys are initiated into sexual activity unwillingly, through forced sex and at an age when they are not able to comprehend what sexuality is. Later we see them having trouble in their relationships and they rarely speak about these things with their partners.” Objectification. It is very disturbing at times to hear how adolescent males approach their female counterparts. This interaction is often rooted in the objectification of the female body. In most instances the boys only see the girls as sexual objects. Undoubtedly, this skewed perception of females in the society also underpins the culture of rape and sexual assault which is rather pervasive in the society. In navigating a rape culture the matter of sexual health becomes that more challenging. A rape culture is an environment in which rape is prevalent and in which sexual violence against women is normalized and excused in the media and popular culture. This toxic culture is perpetuated through the use of misogynistic language, the objectification of women’s bodies, and the glamorization of sexual violence, thereby creating a society that disregards women’s rights and safety. Sadly, in the Jamaican society many of our dancehall songs promote a culture of rape and sexual violence. The lewd and disturbing lyrics can be viewed as advancing a culture of rape. We have all heard the lyrics; one only has to Google dancehall music with pro-rape culture lyrics. Interestingly, many young men and boys are socialized primarily through the media, particularly popular-culture. In a society where the church is not as forceful as it once was regarding the socialization process the media has pride of place concerning how we socialize our young men and boys. In a society with a high concentration of cellular phones every young man has access to a cellular phone and therefore can access the various social media platforms where these lyrics are played uncensored. Many of us tend to laugh off certain misogynistic comments; and in so doing we too are guilty concerning the promotion of a rape culture. Given that we have established a connection on the subject of the construction of masculinity and sexual health we now need to analyze how popular culture is also responsible for sexual irresponsibility among our young men and boys. Responsible Behaviour. A condom is a thin, fitted tube worn over the penis during sex (male condoms) or inserted into the vagina before sex (female condoms). They create a barrier that keeps semen and other body fluids out of the vagina, rectum, or mouth. Quite often a condom is referred to as a rubber or the barrier method. However, no matter what you call them, condoms have the same purpose. They prevent STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) and pregnancy. Additionally, condoms are a good birth control option because they are cheap and easily accessible. To use male condoms: One should ensure the condom is in good condition and not torn or expired (check the date on the package). Carefully open the wrapper and take out the condom. Place it on the tip of your fully erect penis. The rolled side should be facing out. If you are uncircumcised, pull back the foreskin first. Leave a half-inch of space at the tip where the semen can collect when you ejaculate. This helps prevent the condom from breaking. Some condoms have reservoir tips that leave the space for you. Condom Usage and Masculinity. In a society which ridicules and label men who are not biological fathers with such negative terms such as “gelding” it should not be surprising that men who adhere to traditionally masculine norms tend to report less consistent condom use and believe that a woman’s pregnancy validates a man’s masculinity. Even men who are happily married engage in extra-marital affairs to affirm their sense of masculinity in a society which again labels men who are in a single and committed relationship as “one burner”. We should not be surprised that men from all walks of life, even men of the cloth, clergymen cheat on their spouses. Unfortunately, many men do not use any form of protection and oftentimes place themselves and their wives at risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases. Our young men and boys are in a quandary regarding role models. A culture of resistance to condom usage summarizes very well males’ perception towards condoms in the society. To whom do our young men and boys seek guidance from? It is abundantly clear that the education system is not the first choice. In a recent revelation, the Education Minister stated that 25% of the 180 high schools in Jamaica are failing. While this might be shocking for some, there are those of us who are in the system and are very much aware of the shortcomings of the education system. In fact, there are some educators who have concluded that the percentage of failing schools is much more than 25%. Regardless of the percentage it is rather evident that the education system is in trouble. Reinforcing Positive Sexual Health. The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common Sexually Transmitted Infection. There were about 43 million HPV infections in 2018, many among people in their late teens and early 20s. There are many different types of HPV. Some types can cause health problems, including genital warts and cancers. However, there are vaccines that can stop these health problems from happening. Nearly every sexually active person will have Human Papillomavirus (HPV) at some point. It is the most common sexually-transmitted infection in the U.S. A number of social indicators are against us having a culture of positive sexual health. However, we cannot throw our hands in the air and give up. As a society we need to revisit the mores which over the years have changed to suit the disintegration of positive values and attitudes in the society. Mores (pronounced “more-rays”) are preferred and socially sanctioned ways of behaving in any given society. These are stronger forms of norms, in which more fundamental habits of behavior are involved. Social mores are rules developed by societies to govern how people should behave and engage in social interactions. Cultural mores, on the other hand, are tied directly to the ways of life, the morals, and the ethics of a given culture, and come with consequences if the cultural more is not followed. Social mores are generally less strict than cultural mores. In order to create a culture of positive sexual health there needs to be massive collective conscious efforts to fight against the falsehoods about sexuality which have become common place in the society. Our boys and young men must be equipped with the skill sets to interrogate traditional sexist views of sexual health and masculinity and embrace a new culture of respect and tolerance. In the words of Babatunde Osotimehin, sexual and reproductive health and rights are universal human rights! They are an indivisible part of the broader human rights and development equation. Their particular power resides in the fact that they deal with the most intimate aspects of our identities as individuals and enable human dignity, which is dependent on control of our bodies, desires and aspirations. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo © #sexualhealth #masculinity #sexuality