Anal heterosex among young people and implications for health promotion: a qualitative study in the UK

Marston, C. and Lewis, R. (2014) Anal heterosex among young people and implications for health promotion: a qualitative study in the UK. BMJ Open, 4(8), e004996. (doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-004996) (PMID:25122073) (PMCID:PMC4156810)

Abstract

Objective: To explore expectations, experiences and circumstances of anal sex among young people. Design: Qualitative, longitudinal study using individual and group interviews. Participants: 130 men and women aged 16–18 from diverse social backgrounds. Setting: 3 contrasting sites in England (London, a northern industrial city, rural southwest). Results: Anal heterosex often appeared to be painful, risky and coercive, particularly for women. Interviewees frequently cited pornography as the ‘explanation’ for anal sex, yet their accounts revealed a complex context with availability of pornography being only one element. Other key elements included competition between men; the claim that ‘people must like it if they do it’ (made alongside the seemingly contradictory expectation that it will be painful for women); and, crucially, normalisation of coercion and ‘accidental’ penetration. It seemed that men were expected to persuade or coerce reluctant partners. Conclusions: Young people's narratives normalised coercive, painful and unsafe anal heterosex. This study suggests an urgent need for harm reduction efforts targeting anal sex to help encourage discussion about mutuality and consent, reduce risky and painful techniques and challenge views that normalise coercion.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Lewis, Dr Ruth
• Authors: Marston, C., and Lewis, R.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU
• Journal Name: BMJ Open
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• ISSN: 2044-6055
• ISSN (Online): 2044-6055
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2014 The Authors
• First Published: First published in BMJ Open 4:e004996
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License