Sex and sensibility: Toward a sociology of HIV risk (Immune deficiency)

More than 20 years into an epidemic that has both decimated and created vibrant communities, new Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections are still part of the social and sexual landscapes. Prevention programs that promote rational choice models of education and individual responsibility have created important inroads into sexual communities that are at high risk for HIV infection, however, these models fail to account for notions of desire, erotics, and the irrationality of sexual attraction and activities. Borrowing from the literature on social geography and cultural anthropology, this dissertation proposes using the concept of “sexual risk-scapes” as a way to understand and contextualize the seemingly irrational sexual activities among gay men.; Using Plummer's framework of sexual storytelling and Herdt and Stoller's concept of intimate communications, a total of 15 in-depth interviews were conducted with participants who responded to questions about sexual behaviors, risk-reduction strategies and their own sexual histories. Using a case-study approach, the interviews and observations were recorded and analyzed and from these three recommendations were made. First, efforts should be made to encourage gay men to talk and discuss freely about sexuality, intimacy and HIV risk. Second, testing efforts should be expanded to allow for non-traditional venues and approaches such as sex-clubs, bathhouses and other environments that are seen as “high-risk”. Finally, individuals should be given treatment options that will increase their health and quality of life, while reducing the likelihood of transmission to those individuals that are HIV negative.; This project contributes to the literature on sexualities in significant theoretical and methodological ways. By adopting a critical analysis of situated sexual cultures and risk, this project moves debate away from the “saint/sinner” dichotomy that pervades discussions of newly infected individuals. Methodologically, this work contributes to the growing literature on narrative analyses of sexualities and sexual story-telling.