Sex Education in Adult Retail Stores

Abstract

To assess the extent to which consumers of adult retail stores present “teachable moments” that could be used for sexuality education, data were analyzed from 273 employees of adult retail stores in 61 U.S. cities. Participants reported on the frequency with which they were asked questions related to disease prevention, pregnancy prevention, or sexual enhancement. Additionally, participants provided 806 questions that they were personally most frequently asked. Findings indicate that they most frequently receive questions about adult media products, sexual toys, and lubricants; further, questions are most often framed within the context of sexual enhancement. By reconceptualizing these questions and the potential responses of employees, sexuality educators may realize that there is a unique opportunity for engaging with this industry to enhance the availability of accurate information to sexually active or interested adults.

Key Words:

• Adult retail stores
• sexuality education
• sexual health promotion
• adults

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Debby Herbenick

Debby Herbenick, PhD(c), MPH, is Research Associate and Lecturer, She is also the Associate Director of the Sexual Health Research Working Group at Indiana University, a collaborative of faculty and students conducting research on contemporary issues related to sexuality. Debby's primary research interests are related to the adult retail industry and sexual health promotion, women's sexuality and genital health.

Michael Reece

Michael Reece, PhD, MPH, is Assistant Professor and the William L. Yarber Professor of Sexual Health in the Department of Applied Health Science at Indiana University. Michael was previously a post-doctoral fellow at the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. Michael's primary research interests are related to the mental health consequences of HIV infection and the delivery of community-based sexual health interventions. Michael is Director of the Sexual Health Research Working Group at Indiana University ([email protected]).