Our relationships, our values, our culture - Aboriginal young men’s perspectives about sex, relationships and gender stereotypes in Australia

Abstract

Studies of Aboriginal young people have often followed a deficit approach depicting them as ‘risky’ and in need of help. In contrast, this study took a strengths-based approach and focussed on what Aboriginal young people value, how they stay safe and how their culture impacts their lives. 16 Aboriginal men aged 16 to 24 years were interviewed in Sydney, Australia. We examined Aboriginal young men’s perspectives about relationships, sex and gender. Interviews were conducted by young Aboriginal men in 2019 and 2020. Overall, four features of positive sexual and romantic relationships were discussed: (1) love, connection and support; (2) enjoyment and fun; (3) responsibility, safety and consent; and 4) honesty, respect and trust. Additionally, three topics related to gender roles: (1) becoming a man; (2) sex as a masculine achievement; and (3) inequality and gender stereotypes. Our study suggests that Aboriginal young men are exploring sexual and romantic relationships, and although they value enjoyment and fun, they are aware of broader issues such as consent and respect. The young men acknowledged gender stereotypes faced by young women. Our results could be used by future school safe sex education programmes to better meet the needs of Aboriginal young men.

Keywords:

• Indigenous
• First Nations
• youth
• consent
• sex
• relationships
• gender
• culture

Acknowledgements

Four of the authors are Aboriginal men, including the first and last authors. The Fostering the Sexual Well-Being of Aboriginal Young People study was a partnership between UNSW Sydney, Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District, South Western Sydney Local Health District and Family Planning NSW, together with investigators from the University of Sydney, The University of Melbourne, The University of British Columbia and Charles Darwin University. The project investigators include Joanne Bryant, Reuben Bolt, Michael Doyle, Dean Murphy, Carla Treloar, Stephen Bell, Simon Graham, Christy Newman, Annette Browne, Peter Aggleton, Jessica Botfield, Ben Davis, Bronwyn Leece, Linda Stanbury, Karen Beetson, Voula Kougelos, Megan Brooks and Kacey Martin. We are grateful for the contributions of Mitchell Beadman, Jessica Wilms, Tamika Briggs and Kristy Gardner.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was written as part of the Australian Research Council Linkage Project LP170100190 Fostering the Sexual Well-Being of Aboriginal Young People. The Centre for Social Research in Health receives support from UNSW Arts, Design and Architecture, the Australian Department of Health, and other external funders. The Australian National Health and Medical Research Council through Investigator grants supported the salaries of Simon Graham (grant number 2009727) and Michael Doyle (grant number 1193618).