Sexual consent: Exploring the perceptions of heterosexual and non-heterosexual men

ABSTRACT

The current understanding of sexual consent negotiation is grounded in research conducted with heterosexual populations, and little is understood about how non-heterosexual men (bisexual, bi-curious, two-spirited, other) navigate these processes. A sample of 251 heterosexual men and 313 non-heterosexual men participated in an online survey where they were asked to respond to an open-ended question that addressed their perceptions of the differences between how heterosexual and non-heterosexual men negotiate sexual consent. Participants were recruited through social media (i.e. Facebook, Twitter), Amazon’s Mechanical Turk, and via the distribution of flyers/posters. The sample consisted of men from Canada, the United States, and Western Europe. Basic demographic information was gathered along with self-identified sexual orientation. Four main themes were derived through the thematic analysis of responses:understanding of sexual interactions, understanding of sexual script, unique challenges, and the universality of sexual consent. Findings provide initial insight into some of the perceived differences and barrier both non-heterosexual and heterosexual men face in negotiating sexual consent and highlight some of the entrenched heteronormative beliefs that both heterosexual and non-heterosexual men endorse. Results can serve to inform social interactions, education, and policymaking.

KEYWORDS:

• Sexual consent
• heterosexual men
• gay men
• bisexual men
• sexual script
• masculinity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Shulamit Sternin

S. Sternin is a psychology honours student under the supervision of Dr. Elke Reissing in the Human Sexuality Research Laboratory at the University of Ottawa. She also holds a MA in music from the University of Ottawa. Shulamit plans to pursue Clinical Psychology at the doctoral level with research focusing on dyadic relationships and sexuality within a relational context.

Raymond M. McKie

R. McKie is a Clinical Psychology doctoral student under the supervision of Dr. Elke Reissing in the Human Sexuality Lab at the University of Ottawa. Raymond’s research focuses on gay men’s psychological and sexual well-being.

Carter Winberg

Carter Winberg received his M.D. in 2020 from the University of Toronto. He currently works in the Division of Internal Medicine at McMaster Health Sciences Centre in Hamilton. He continues to have an interest in research and collaborates with other researchers when he can.

Robb N. Travers

Dr. Robb Travers received his Ph.D. in Public Health Sciences from the University of Toronto. He is currently a Professor and Chair of the Department of Health Sciences at Wilfrid Laurier University. Robb is cross-appointed in the Department of Psychology. His research focuses on public health, particularly related to discrimination and marginalization.

Terry P. Humphreys

Dr. T. P. Humphreys received his Ph.D. in Family Relations and Human Development, specializing in Human Sexuality, from the University of Guelph. He is currently a Professor in the Psychology Department at Trent University, an Advisory Committee member for the World Association for Sexual Health and a former President of The Canadian Sex Research Forum and The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality.

Elke D. Reissing

Dr. E. D. Reissing received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from McGill University. She is currently a Professor and Coordinator of Practica and Internships at the School of Psychology at the University of Ottawa. She is the Director of the Sexual Health Research Laboratory.