SEXUAL DECISION-MAKING BY INNER-CITY BLACK-ADOLESCENT MALES - A FOCUSGROUP-STUDY

This research was designed to illuminate the cognitive and emotional b ases of the sexual decisions made by young Black men. It was guided by the assumption that the Black male's understanding and expression of his sexuality reflects a socially constructed interpretation of who he is. Specifically, we believe that sexual decision making is guided by sexual scripts. Focus groups were conducted with 27 Black young men a ges 15 to 19. Analyses of the transcripts of these discussions identif ied four sets of beliefs that are related to sexual decisions: what it means to be a man, good and bad things about sexual intimacy, beliefs about condoms, and beliefs about AIDS. We also identified seven conce rns in our analyses: (a) good girls, bad girls; (b) asking for sex; (c ) ''running the game''; (d) being ''hooked up''; (e) conflicts with ot her men; (f) the relation between sex and love; and (g) male roles and fatherhood. Quotations from the participants illustrate each of these concerns. The participants were asked at the end of each session to s uggest ways that young men like themselves might be encouraged to prot ect their sexual health. We concluded that these young men view sexual behavior, sexual partners, and condom use as elements within a comple x script that governs heterosexual interactions.