Masculinity and contraceptive Practices: the case of young Lithuanian Men
Journal Title: KultŁ«ra ir visuomenė. SocialiniŁ³ tyrimŁ³ Ł¾urnalas - Year 2014, Vol 5, Issue 3
Abstract
Quantitative studies indicate that the proportion of users of non-technological contraceptive methods in Lithuania is significantly higher than in most Western countries but the proportion of users of hormonal contraception is lower. Analyzing 30 semi-structured interviews with 19–34-year-old childless men, the article explores the connec- tion between contraceptive practices and perceptions of masculinity. The author argues that contraceptive practices can function as a means of enacting normative masculinity and influencing the development of romantic relationships. Study participants who used withdrawal as their primary method of contraception associated it with increased sexual pleasure and their ability to control their bodies. When withdrawal was considered to be less reliable than other means of contraception it signified later stages of romantic relationships in which the risk of pregnancy was not as disturbing as in their early phases. Casual sexual encounters and initial stages of romantic relationships were linked to the use of male condoms. On the one hand, some study participants’ idea that a man should always have a condom can be interpreted as a reflection of hegemonic male sexuality in Lithuania: men were always expected to be ready for sexual encounters. On the other hand, compared to other technological methods, male condoms were easy to obtain and their popularity was self-explanatory. However, some study participants saw the use of condoms as inhibiting sexual pleasure, therefore, they associated the later stages of their romantic relationships with other contraceptive methods. Western academic research on contraception also confirms this tendency. Yet somewhat negative attitudes towards the use of the pill are characteristic of the Lithuanian context. Those men who regarded the use of the pill to be detrimental to woman’s health prioritized the health of their partner/wife and chose condoms even in the long-term relationships. Since caring for one’s own woman functions as one of the most important features of normative masculinity, contraceptive practices perceived in this way also enabled the researched men to enact the ideals of hegemonic masculinity.
Authors and Affiliations
Vaida Tretjakova
Keywords
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- EP ID EP100280
- DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.7220/2335-8777.5.3.4
- Views 127
- Downloads 0
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