Sexual attitudes and practices in North India: A qualitative study

Abstract

Sexual practices and attitudes to sex have raised concerns among the young and the old alike in India. The topic of sex has become slightly more open following the AIDS/HIV epidemic. The present study is aimed at understanding nuances of sexual behaviour and analysing the impact of different life stages on sexual attitudes and practices. Four focus groups and four in-depth paired discussions were conducted in four age groups. Based in metropolitan Delhi, the study revealed that attitudes to sex and variant sexual practices remain broadly traditional and conservative and there remains a remarkable gender difference in the attitudes. Most young respondents were against premarital sex but still indulged in it. These findings are discussed in relation to urbanisation, globalisation and changes in the socio-demographic profiles of the population. In view of the differences in attitudes between the older and younger respondents, there appears to be an urgent need for sex education in Indian schools.

Keywords:

• sexual attitudes
• India
• urban
• males
• females

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Indian Market Research Bureau (IMRB) at Delhi and their staff, especially Aditi Varma, for conducting the field work.