Research project Young heterosexual men and sex - between risk and pleasure

Men are even understood to have a strong and “natural” interest for sex, and to be the initiator of many sexual practices and relations. At the same time, men’s sexuality is often described as potentially harmful as their pleasure may be exercised at the expense of women’s sexual health. Not seldom is young men’s pornography consumption, unrealistic sexual ideals, and sexual violence and harassments against women brought up as examples of men’s sexuality as something problematic.
 
In addition, surveys show that young men are less satisfied with their sex life than both girls the same age, and the population at large, and that young men – more so than young women – feel that they cannot say no sex (Folkhälsomyndigheten, 2019). More boys than girls say that is not important to be able to communicate about sex with a partner, and do not think that that both partners have an equal say in whether to have sex or not (Folkhälsomyndigheten, 2017). The results from studies like these show the need of in-depth knowledge of sexual health among young men, where young men’s own experiences are given space. In this research project, we interview young men between 16-29 years of age about issues concerning sexuality and sexual practices, dating, relations and consent.