The sex culture of the Afamistas : An exploratory study on sexual behavior and sexual health

This thesis aims to contribute to the enrichment of our knowledge about human sexual behavior. It is a scientific attempt to specifically understand, the sex culture of Filipino male homosexuals who prefer foreign sex partners, or referred herein as afamistas . Their attitudes and behavior particularly in the areas of sexual partnership, sexual meanings, sexual pleasure and satisfaction, and sexual health comprise the main focus of the study. The data derived from in-depth interviews of 15 respondents and observational methods were examined based on the methodological thrust of the grounded theory approach to qualitative data method: one which develops conceptual interconnections of the different social variables on human sexuality as encompassing the existence of the afamista culture . The major findings of the study reveal extremely diverse sexual perceptions and practices vis- a- vis the varying socio-economic backgrounds of the 15 respondents interviewed. Three types of partnership were found: casual, regular, and permanent. Each of these partnerships indicates a unique sexual lifestyle in which conditions for preference of sex partners and sexual acts, perceptions of sexual satisfaction, and consciousness of sexual health were determined. Also found was a discrepancy in the conditions and choice of sexual acts as influenced by the respondents perceptions of sexual meanings. The implications of these findings were found to be significant in our understanding of sexuality for the analysis of the social and cultural contexts in which sexual meanings are constructed. Furthermore, the preference for foreigners is a unique social construct which in turn shapes a distinctive sexual culture which is a microcosm of larger sexual structures. Only through understanding these sexual structures which were empirically validated in the findings of this thesis can we begin to grasp the meaning of our own sexual life, sexual identity, and sexual citizenship. The findings contained in this thesis may make an important contribution in sexual behavior research specifically by providing a social constructionist framework in looking at sexual health. Thus, the sexual culture of the afamistas was seen as a product of social structures with which we understand the multiplicity of human sexual life. The direct link that was found between sexual practices and sexual health may therefore springboard for the health social science researches and program health interventions to address the AIDS pandemic