Michel Bozon Institut National d’Etudes Démographiques Paris, France Gender, health and living conditions. A new generation of surveys on sexual behaviour Michel Bozon Institut National d’Etudes Démographiques Paris, France

Introduction (1) Sex surveys as cultural products Sex surveys can be analysed from a sociological perspective A survey is a social enterprise, aiming at treating a social problem, by an alliance between groups and scientific disciplines It is an intellectual production, aiming at defining and legitimizing a scientific object.

Introduction (2) Sex surveying has never become a routine issue Historical perspective (Giami, 1991): sex surveys belong to their time and cultural context, rather than to a tradition of sex surveying. Cross-cultural perspective (Le Gall, 2001): comparing questionnaires of the same period shows how the national constructions of sex may differ.

Introduction (3) Trying to be reflexive on my own work I have organized or co-organized several sex surveys: ACSF (France, 1992), Cosecon (Chile, 1998), Gravad (Brazil, 2002), CSF (France, 2006). A new project in Mexico. I took part in cross-cultural projects: European surveys (Hubert, Bajos, 1998), Latin American surveys.

The discontinuity of sex surveys (Gagnon, 1988) Every historical period has to invent new justifications for surveying sex There are generations of surveys, linked to the political and social issues of their time The very definition of sexual behaviour varies from one survey to other (Giami, 1991)

1948-1953: Kinsey, the pioneer? The myth of the lonely scientist fighting his time and society’s prejudices The study of sex is part of natural science Search for exhaustivity and description of the diversity of behaviours Orgasm as the basic unit of sexual activity The sexual explains the sexual A cultural, rather than a scientific event?

Surveys of the 60’s and early 70’s Schofield (1965, UK), Zetterberg (Sweden, 1967), Simon (France, 1970), Sievers (Finland, 1972). The emergence of a contraceptive society Increase in young people’s sexual autonomy Diversification of sexual repertoires

Surveys of the 90’s DHS surveys, WHO Hiv/Aids surveys, Hiv/Aids European surveys, United States survey, Chilean and Brazilian survey, etc. Sexuality as a risk. Hiv/aids, teen age pregnancy. Investigating networks of partners, risk groups and means of protection The aim is helping people to protect themselves

A new generation of surveys at the turn of the century Integrating gender, health and living conditions Putting together the numerous components of the experience of sexuality Sexual activity in a life course perspective Gender relations: equality, power and domination shape the exercice of sexuality Having control over one’s living conditions

Sexuality in a broad definition Sexual violence Sexual practices and repertoires Non penetrative sex Lack or irregularity of sex Contraceptive practice Unplanned pregnancy and abortion Sexual dysfunction HIV, Sexually Transmitted Infections

Sexuality and health, sexual health A dialectical relation between sexuality and health ( in the WHO definition) State of health influences sexual behaviour Sexual activity influences health and well-being Sexual health depends on sexual rights

The ACSF 1992 survey in France An epidemiological bias (Giami, 1993) Questions on condoms, but never on contraception Intercourse are described from a risk perspective, which implies a selection Interdisciplinary research team. A surprising module on sexual fantasies

Social and epidemiological shifts, in relation to sexuality Public health context: Aids has turned into a chronic disease, less sensitivity about preventive issues, medicalisation of sexuality (erectile dysfunction) Social situation: growing poverty of some groups, new family arrangements Sexuality: an issue of political debate A new normative regime of sexuality

The new CSF 2006 study in France Life history situations: sex before forming a couple, sex after a marital disruption Gender: imbalanced situations, conflict and sex Non penetrative sex, lack of sex Sexual aging Being forced into sex Internet and sexual activity

Conclusion Widening definitions of sexuality and health Persisting gender imbalance in sexual interaction and social unequality in living conditions A prolonged period of sexual activity, with a diversification of relational situations A gap between social representations of sexuality and personal experiences Surveys should be food for thought and for public debate